Walter Nyamukondiwa in CHAKARI

Empowerment champion First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday lit up Mashonaland West Province where she interacted with thousands of people as she sought lasting solutions to drugs and substance abuse, immorality among teenagers, indecent dressing and the need to care for vulnerable members of society.

The mother of the nation engaged the community and ironed out various social ills in Chakari.

The fully packed programme solicited community-generated solutions as the First Lady deftly drew people from their shells to share sore points in their communities and proffer solutions.

From issues affecting teenagers, marriages and the family unit, the gathering united to restore the moral fibre.

Mashonaland West Province is ranked third highest in domestic violence cases.

An environment Ambassador, the First Lady began proceedings by leading a clean-up campaign in observance of President Mnangagwa’s National Clean-Up Day on the first Friday of every month.

She drew laughter when she requested to accompany at least three of them to their homes.

There was guarded response from a group of women taking part in the clean-up, betraying apprehension to the request as they pondered the state they left their homes in.

This was Amai Mnangagwa’s way of saying hygiene starts in the home.

The First Lady brought goods including blankets, food and warm clothes for vulnerable groups.

Some came in wheelchairs while others were aided by clutches and walking sticks, representing a cross-section of the community from children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups.

Their collective needs met the mother of the nation’s compassion who came prepared with winter blankets under the ongoing First Lady Blanket Drive Campaign.

Institutions such as Jairos Jiri also received blankets and food hampers.

Mashonaland West province ranks third in the number of domestic violence cases in the country.

“This is not a good record, which shows that people are failing to live in harmony in marriages,” said Amai Mnangagwa. “We must address the challenge. What is the cause? From what we got here, domestic violence arising mostly from misunderstandings over sharing of proceeds from tobacco sales.”

Some men played cameo roles in the production cycle, only to squander proceeds from the auction floors.

Women and children work hard only to get crumbs after the husband claims to have been robbed at the auction floors.

Sometimes the men take another wife. She also tackled the issue of early sexual activity among teenagers where girls and boys highlighted the dangers of early sexual debut.

The First Lady bemoaned the involvement of some men in sexual activity with teenagers.

Teenage pregnancies, she said, deprived parents of treasure associated with girls maintaining their virginity until they are married.

“We now have a problem where boys and girls are indulging in sexual activity resulting in unwanted pregnancy, exposure to diseases and dropping out of school,” she said.

“Parents have high expectations for their children getting mombe dzechimanda (a cow handed over by a man to a virgin girl’s parents) for raising their girl child the proper way is one of them. “

She warned that children, especially girls faced dangers, including losing virginity, unwanted pregnancies, contracting diseases including HIV and dropping out of school, which negatively alters their path in life.

The discussion shifted to the issue of dressing where parents deplored the way children were dressing.

The buck stopped on the doorstep of parents who were also accused of being a bad influence on children by not dressing appropriately.

Through her philanthropic and empowerment programmes mainly targeting women, Amai Mnangagwa said, they had no reason to engage in prostitution.

“There are many projects I am running which are tailored to empower women for them not to resort to immoral behaviour,” she said.

People in Mashonaland West said drug peddlers should be arrested.

She responded and said people in communities know the people who are taking drugs and selling drugs and they should report them to the police.

“You have said that people who sell drugs must be arrested but as communities you know who is taking drugs and those selling them. Your children come home showing that they have taken drugs, why don’t you report them to the police so that we can trace the root of the drugs,” she said.

Amai Mnangagwa distributed mealie-meal, cooking oil, rice, beans, sugar and salt hampers to Jairos Jiri, the elderly, orphans and those with disabilities. She also brought winter jackets to keep them warm.

Chaplin Christine Phiri enjoined communities to emulate the First Lady’s love for people.

No one raised their hands when asked if they did not want to grow old.

She said ageing was a reality, which bids people to look after the elderly for reciprocal care in their later years.

Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo paid tribute to the First Lady for bringing relief to the elderly, the vulnerable and those with disabilities.

“Due to climate change, temperatures are so low this winter season and we thank you as Mashonaland West for the blankets, hampers and remembering us always,” she said.

Iyasa entertained the gathering with their themed performances where they played Chando Chinouraya, a song by the late Paul Matavire on Gweru’s famed cold weather. – Herald