Tendai Rupapa in GOKWE

HEALTH and Child Care Ambassador First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa stole the hearts of thousands in Gokwe villages during a two-day medical outreach programme.

The programme saw her come face-to-face with the harsh realities women grapple with — cervical and breast cancer, child marriages, and drug abuse.

Her unwavering commitment to transforming vulnerable communities and saving lives was palpable as she interacted with the villagers.

The programme’s immense popularity was evident in the oversubscribed tents manned by dedicated health personnel.

Services like HIV testing, cancer screening using the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid and Camera (VIAC) procedure, and hypertension and diabetes checks were all offered free of charge.

Dr Mnangagwa’s visit was specifically prompted by pleas through her 575 toll-free line.

The programme wasn’t just about medical check-ups — it was about offering hope and a listening ear.

Dr Mnangagwa engaged in heartfelt conversations with the community, counselled mothers worried about their daughters facing child marriage and spoke about young people struggling with drug addiction.

It also emerged that cervical cancer cases were increasing being caused by some women who were washing their private parts with drinks in the hope of enhancing their sexual appeal oblivious to the fact that this caused cancer.

Some openly said they were inserting unknown substances in the cervix to increase sexual pleasure, paving the way for cervical cancer to develop.

Many people suffer from deadly, and aggressive cancers. Unfortunately, they lack the ability to check and so they simply detect the cancer too late. Cervical cancer can be treated if detected early, hence the First Lady’s medical outreach programmes which mobilise communities to get screened and urge them to eat healthy traditional foods.

The mother of the nation held an interactive session with the community to tackle cases of drug abuse, child marriages and promiscuity after receiving reports on her National Gender-Based Violence Call Centre-575 that they were rearing an ugly head in the area.

In her address, the First Lady said she was on a mission to build strong and healthy families.

“I thank you for coming here where we are working together in building our families from children right up to parents. This will result in you learning lots of things when you leave this place. God created the country in its entirety with us women being part of the matrix as we raise our families and preserve our health.

“As mothers, you are important because you give life and in your absence nothing moves in the correct direction. I have come so that your health can be checked. Right now, cholera has spread, but what causes it and how do we prevent it?” she said.

The question elicited many responses with people pointing at lack of hygiene, eating unwashed fruits and cold food.

“Open defecation is not allowed. To prevent cholera there is need for smartness starting from your body, your household, your clothes, ensuring that food is properly cooked and people eat warm or hot food. If it is here in the countryside, you need a water container that we call chigubhu gear to wash hands,” a respondent said.

Another woman urged women not to dispose of used diapers in public spaces where they end up in wells that are used by the people.

The First Lady spoke out against unhygienic practices saying people needed to maintain good hygiene standards to keep diseases like cholera at bay. “Now cholera is wreaking havoc and the disease is contagious, please seek treatment,” she said.

As the environment ambassador, the First Lady spoke against the cutting down of trees.

“God created us in our land and gave us trees and many other things around us. He said in his Word that the trees will sustain us and, therefore, we should not cut them down indiscriminately. From those trees, we get the air we breathe, fruits, shade and help curb soil erosion and climate change,” she said.

She outlined the medicinal benefits of trees and other natural herbs, and the importance of protecting them.

“Also many of our trees and plants are medicinal such that we should keep them so that even generations to come will learn about them and also benefit. When one falls sick, you can take ginger, mutsine, moringa or other natural herbs that will work hand in hand with the medicine prescribed by doctors.

“Some of the medicines and pills are manufactured using the barks of our indigenous trees. Therefore, trees are life and we should protect them and plant more,” she said.

Dr Mnangagwa spoke about her toll-free line 575 set up to combat domestic violence.

“I am receiving calls from Gokwe mainly about child marriages that are taking place here. Why are we doing this? Is it for the love of a son-in-law or nice things? We say no to those who do that and the long arm of the law will catch up with those doing so. Let children be children and let them pursue their education,” she said.

Amai Mnangagwa spoke against drug and substance abuse and encouraged youths to focus on their education and shun drugs.

“Our children are ruined by drugs and they have lost normal functions of the body leading to death. Also marriages are breaking down due to various reasons; what is it that is causing promiscuity and contributing to marriage breakdowns?”

In response, some women accused men of always being drunk resulting in failure to please their wives.

“Men are coming home drunk daily and denying us conjugal rights. We are now widows yet the husbands are still alive. Men are forcing us to cheat,” she said.

Another lady said: “Men are being promiscuous and squandering the money we would have toiled for together and this pains us a lot.”

But one female respondent left the blame squarely on women.

“We as women are forcing men out because we have left the good we did in the primacy of marriage where we cooked and washed for our husbands. We also no longer bath, spending the whole day on social media. Kugeza kwehumhandara takasiya,” she said.

On issues of cancer, Amai Mnangagwa said: “What you are inserting in your privates might not affect you today but in future you will suffer the consequences. Some said they are doing this to please their husbands, but if you die of cancer, the same man will move on with his life and marry another woman. Let us stay healthy and avoid such harmful practices.”

On the second day, the First Lady said she felt indebted to serve the people who voted the President back into office in August last year, allowing her to continue with her programmes.

“As I stand before you here since yesterday, you are the ones who empower me from the voting choice you made by voting President Mnangagwa back into office. I am thankful. Women I have seen it fit to continue our discussions. Domestic violence is not good at all and divorce is equally bad. When married, stay in the home and preserve norms and values. We reject picky mothers-in-law who are selective in regards to their daughters-in-law. If John marries Joanna, accept her as your daughter and show her love. Some mothers-in-law are crying over daughters-in-law avo varikunzi ama 2000 who are rushing into marriages without maturity. The law bars the marrying off of children below the age of 18 and to those who are doing this, there is a law which prohibits this and you will be jailed. As mothers let us ensure our children are not married before the time is ripe and urge them to stay away from drugs,” she said.

On drugs and alcohol abuse, Amai Mnangagwa made reference to young children who went viral after being caught on camera while drunk on Christmas Day.

She encouraged parents to discipline children and not allow them to follow alien cultures where some people in other countries are reportedly digging up bones of the deceased to get high.

“The issue of Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba is now in the hands of chiefs’ spouses and it is my wish that the programme continues as people regularly meet to discuss with young people at the chief’s homestead.”

The mother of the nation asked the elderly to relate how they courted until their affairs blossomed into marriage and how they took their time to learn about one another.

She triggered laughter when she inquired as to how long girls of nowadays were taking to accept a love proposal.

A certain lady left the crowd in stitches when she said these days there was need for speed so after one receives a courtship proposal the maximum time of dilly-dallying was six minutes at most.

Dr Mnangagwa encouraged legislators and councillors to work with their communities and represent them well.

She implored MPs to engage her office so that they get projects to go back with to women in their constituencies.

Chief Njelele said he was appreciative of the educative programmes which the First Lady was doing countrywide for the benefit of the people.

“Our mother is doing a lot. She always came with the Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba programme, Nharirire Yemusha and many others. Now she has come with another programme urging people to get tested and screened so that they are treated to stay alive.

“Most people do not know their status. Getting tested makes people know their status and to seek help while the time is still ripe. She also tackled the issue of domestic violence where she left advice and encouragement for people to live in peace while showing love to one another.

“She is also discouraging girls from rushing into marriages but to wait for the appropriate time to start assuming motherly duties. In our courts we are also witnessing similar challenges where girls are married at between 13 and 14 years of age. But by the time they reach the age of 19, the boy who will be between 30 and 35 years of age then chase them away meaning the girl’s life will be ruined. Our mother is speaking mainly against such child marriages. We wish the programmes continue so that we also acquire knowledge to teach our people to appreciate the importance of life. She is also discouraging children from taking drugs and alcohol. We are encountering such cases here and children have lost manners because of this. It is our wish that people quit drugs and focus on projects brought by Amai to sustain themselves. As chiefs, we pray that the whole country comes together to back these programmes which are being spearheaded by the First Lady,” he said.

The community showed great appreciation for the First Lady’s teachings and shared some of the challenges they were facing.

Mrs Maria Choga from Gwehava bared her soul.

“I am grateful for the lessons we have received from the First Lady. She taught us something that we were used to doing not knowing that it was bad. Marrying off children at a tender age was among our common practices in the churches. In some churches that we attend, this issue of child marriages is rampant and children are being married off at 12 or 13 years. Also in our communities, our husbands are marrying off our daughters before age. If my husband leaves for beer drinking and finds himself broke, he “sells” the daughter and he later orders her to go and stay with an old man. If you dare raise your voice you are told that you never brought a child here and risk being bashed. This programme brought by Amai is very critical and it gave us life lessons. Now that we have been empowered, we are going to report these cases whenever they happen be it in our communities or churches,” she said.

Councillor Beswin Bindiko expressed delight at the First Lady’s visit which she said was timely.

“We are excited by the programme that has been brought by the First Lady, especially for young children because we were facing challenges controlling them especially on drug and substance abuse. Our children are using drugs and have lost respect for elders. They are also getting to the extent of raping the elderly while intoxicated and doing many other criminal activities. Even in our schools these children are now wayward. This programme is important because these children can change if it comes from the mouth of our mother the First Lady because they will listen and respect her wise counselling. Children can rape even their mothers after coming back home under the influence. We have a high number of school dropouts as most children now shun education choosing to take drugs and staying in the streets. Children as young as 11 are dropping out of school because of drugs so we are happy for the programme Amai has brought. We say to our children please stay away from drugs,” she said.

Mrs Fiona Gomba from Nyamazana Village 3 echoed similar sentiments.

“Our village is teeming with some worshippers who do not allow their congregants to visit hospitals. The greatest problem of all is that the worshippers are barred from seeking medical attention. Now that the First Lady has spoken on the importance of seeking health checks regularly, I hope the people will certainly change their ways. It is true God helps but people need to help themselves also by going to hospital. Mwari vanobatsira anozvibatsira,” she said.

Mrs Virginia Njelele, wife to Chief Njelele, could not hide her joy and said the First Lady’s medical outreach came at an opportune time when cervical cancer cases are on the rise.

She also highlighted the importance of consuming traditional foods and herbs, to minimise the risk of being affected by diseases.

“I thank the First Lady for her visit here with her medical outreach where she encouraged women to be screened for cervical and breast cancer. Here in Gokwe we were facing challenges with cervical cancer with some women having died of this while over 200 were diagnosed with the ailment. I am so happy with Amai’s visit because it had a high turnout. During her interaction with the community, we heard that some women are using certain concoctions, putting them in their private parts while others are using drinks to wash private parts all to entice men, yet this can cause cancer. Our mother also spoke about the value of traditional food. Like what Amai said, we should promote healthy eating. Our forefathers vaigara vakagwinya nekuti vaidya traditional foods nekugara vachitsenga midzi nemashizha anorapa,” she said.

Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Service Chaplain Christine Phiri enjoined the community to follow the First Lady’s counsel.

“Today our mother has come back with a health programme. To be able to work on the farm or in projects you need to be of sound health. When eating, you also need to consume traditional foods which are essential in promoting health. Our mother is asking us to return to our tradition where our elders ate healthy foods and used herbs which kept them stronger. Whenever you fall sick, go and be checked by health personnel. Where zumbani is needed let us use it and where ginger is needed do likewise and in the bible it is there.

Chaplin Phiri read from Ezekiel 47 vs 12 which reads: “Along each bank of the river every kind of fruit tree will grow; their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fresh fruit because the waters of the river flow out from the sanctuary. Their fruit is used for food, and their leaves for healing.”

Black jack is also encouraged because it increases blood. A healthy home is a happy home, she said before bursting into song by the late musician Oliver Mtukudzi  who was Tuku “dada nerudzi rwako”. The elderly in the rural areas must teach the younger children our traditional way of life so that generations to come will also know our tradition. If someone is healthy, he or she can work for the family. In Zimbabwe we were blessed with a mother who has the interests of the people at heart and values health,” she said.

Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Owen Ncube, praised the First Lady for the work she is doing in meeting the health needs of the people.

“We also want, coming from the bottom of our hearts to thank our mother and her Angel of Hope Foundation for this important programme of transforming our health like she has done in these two days. The issue of health is critical especially in National Development Strategy 1 which was put into action to ensure Zimbabweans have better lives before year 2030 without any place and anyone being left behind. She visits all the country’s 10 provinces,” he said.

Mrs Regina Chikoro expressed gratitude to the First Lady for her outreach programme which made her know that she had cancer.

“I was living with a deadly disease without knowing. I only became aware of my predicament after being screened through the assistance of the First Lady’s medical outreach. I really want to thank her for her love and encourage other people out there to go for screening so that they may know where they stand and commenced early on treatment,” she said with a smile.

One of the women, who spoke on condition of anonymity explained why women wore magical potions in their privates and washed with drinks.

“I want to talk about the drinks that we were washing with not knowing that it causes cancer. This was being done to lure men back home but our mother taught us saying such practices were dangerous and exposed us to cancer. I really want to thank our mother for her teachings and we now know this is dangerous and we are going to teach others back home that this is suicidal and should not be done,” she said.

Matron Rachel Mushanga of Gokwe South District Hospital praised the First Lady for her medical outreach.

“We express our happiness to the First Lady for her programme which enables us to get to our patients in hard-to-reach areas. This programme has been well-received in the district because most women have turned up to be screened. Today there are even more people and that is why we are here. We are also testing for HIV so that people know their status. We are teaching men on prostate cancer and breast cancer. We urge men to also be screened for breast cancer and undergo prostate examination. We are also circumcising men to lower HIV transmission by 60 percent,” she said.

Amai Mnangagwa donated an assortment of food to the community including maize-meal. – Herald