Tendai Rupapa

LEARNERS who attended First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s national boys camp recently were given a chance to shine in various spheres as the Mother of the Nation strives to mould balanced children with exposure to academics, sports and practical skills.

As a motivational factor and to scout talent, coaches, sporting legends and technical directors were roped in.

Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) technical director Jethro Hunidzarira, soccer legend Harlington Shereni and grassroots coach Kimberly Chigwedere, who watched the children play soccer and volleyball, said the games were an amazing display of talent and teamwork.

They all commended Amai Mnangagwa for leading from the front in empowering young children with key life skills.

They said they had identified stars among the boys who will be nurtured in different grassroots academies.

In soccer, Manicaland took pole position, followed by Matabeleland South in second position and Mashonaland East Province in third position.

They received trophies, balls and kits.

In volleyball, Mashonaland East Province walked away with a kit and trophy for coming first. Mashonaland West, who came second, received a ball and a trophy, while Matabeleland South Province received a ball.

Malvin Makechemu of Bulawayo grabbed a soccer hat trick.

Bidding farewell to the boys, the First Lady rallied them to become ambassadors who would disseminate what they learnt to their peers and spread the themes of hard work, discipline, focus and respect in their schools and communities.

The closing day saw the boys starting their day by implementing what they were taught by Amai Mnangagwa regarding personal hygiene.

They started by cleaning their rooms before heading for their morning exercises. After bathing, they proceeded to have breakfast.

For breakfast, they enjoyed homemade corn bread (chimodho) which they baked under the guidance of the First Lady.

They also had morning devotion led by Chaplain Christine Phiri.

In her morning address, the First Lady expressed gratitude to traditional chiefs for being supportive through teaching the boys what was expected of them in the Gota/Ixhiba.

The mother of the nation also welcomed commercial farmers living around Banket who graced the occasion.

“For you to be what you are, it’s what you eat, therefore we welcome our farmers. They have come to see you because they also want to see you succeed in life,” she said.

Renowned traditional arts performing group, IYASA, then enacted a play on drug and substance abuse, the importance of consuming traditional foods, urging boys to work hard to do household chores just like girls and the importance of preserving traditional culture.

They also raised awareness on the importance of abstinence and the need for boys to shun Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

Immediately after, Dr Mnangagwa sought to know what the children had learnt from the IYASA play, eliciting a lot of responses from them.

One of the learners said: “I have learnt that smart boys are responsible and that real boys say no to gender-based violence. Even if you are a boy, it does not stop you from reporting any form of abuse against.”

His colleague quipped: “I learnt that we as youths, are leaders of tomorrow, so we should always be of sober minds. I learnt that responsible boys do not take drugs. We also learnt that we should abstain from sexual activities before the time is right.”

Yet another learner said he had learnt the importance of performing all chores without relegating some to girls.

“We also learnt that we should help with household chores. There is no work that is specifically for boys or girls. We also learnt that we should not fall into peer pressure and should use social media wisely and use it to research educational material,” he said.

One of the learners pointed out the need to embrace cultural norms and values.

“I learnt that we should embrace our culture and respect our parents and elders. As boys we should dress decently and not leave trousers hanging, neither should we wear three pairs of trousers at once,” he said.

The First Lady reminded the learners to keep the teachings close to their hearts.

“No one has a monopoly on intelligence. We all thrive through learning and listening to words of advice from other people. Respect everyone and make sure to embrace all the correct teachings for a better future tomorrow.

“Learn to also share with your siblings, friends, schoolmates and communities the valuable lessons you have derived from this camp,” she emphasised.

A farmer, Mr Gary Hensman thanked the mother of the nation for initiating the boys camp to teach the children.

“The children are so lucky that they have got somebody like you looking after their interests and please continue with that. It is fantastic to see. The way they are responding to your questions shows that they grasped all they learnt. We thank you so much,” he said.

After the ball games, the experts present were upbeat with the First Lady’s boys camp.

Mr Hunidzarira was full of praise for the children and said there was no loser among them.

“When you play at your age, there is no loser. We are all winners. If you have been defeated, you have learnt something, you didn’t lose. The word lose does not exist in sports.

“We are happy with the spirit you showed and we are amazed you showed teamwork in a short space of time,” he said before showering the First Lady with praises for organising the camp.

“Mhamha, the kit that we brought that we were using, we have donated to the host team province. The ball that we were using we are also donating to them,” he said.

Coach Kim said as a grassroots coach, she was humbled by the talent she witnessed.

“There is so much talent and as a grassroots coach, I believe in the near future we are going to have quality players and with this programme which Amai initiated, I believe we are going to have men of integrity, men who are responsible, men who are better off especially for our country and this is going to be a betterment for us where we are going to see improved soccer players.

“Not just an improved soccer player, but a sportsperson in our country as this is going to motivate our players. We identified so much talent and we are going to work with the boys going forward so that they achieve their goals. As we groom them through various grassroots programme, this will also motivate other boys,” she said.

Retired soccer star, Shereni, who played for Zimbabwe and Dynamos Football Club in the local premiership before moving abroad, said he was charmed by how the children had been exposed to the world of sport.

He also shared his history as a soccer player as a motivational factor and to prove to the children that one could live from sport.

“I am a former Zimbabwe national team player. I have also played in Europe for more than 10 years so back here there is a programme being spearheaded by the First Lady to help children not only in sport, but also as they grow up.

“Growing up, we did not realise that boys also needed to learn how to cook and other things. Besides promoting the academic side we also discovered that in sport people can build a life.

“I am here to encourage the children that just like myself, they can earn a living through sport. If they do not take drugs as was being said here by Amai, respecting elders and the law of the land they will be successful. We saw it fit to be involved and inspire children,” he said.

Mr Clibert Nyamombe, a teacher at St Faith’s Primary School in Manicaland Province thanked Dr Mnangagwa for the programme, which he said is meant to produce a wholesome boy, adding that both the teachers and the boys will cascade all the lessons to other children in their provinces.

“I would like to thank the First Lady for giving all the children countrywide this opportunity. This is a learning process and we really enjoyed. Amai gave them valuable lessons which I believe will help these children everywhere they go,” he said with happiness.

The First Lady gave words of encouragement to the learners.

“My children, this is our last day. We started on Sunday and from here we do not expect naughtiness as you will be displaying what you learnt. The purpose of you coming here was to make friends and learn,” she said whereupon the children confirmed that they made friends with their peers from different provinces. Amai urged the children to help each other with academic studies.

“You must not fight my sons. You are brothers. I want you to interact more so that you make friends with people from all provinces.”

Amai asked them what they know about sporting activities.

“You are very good boys and we do not expect anything bad from you, especially coming from the camp. Isn’t it that we understand football what it means? What does sporting activities bring to you,” she asked.

In response, the learners said football brings joy, income, promotes teamwork, creates job opportunities and helps fight obesity, it teaches discipline, and improves physical fitness and mental fitness.

The mother of the nation also presented lighter moments when she retorted: “I saw how you were playing as some missed the goalpost yet we expected to win and a player kicks the ball far and wide into the forest.”

Another contributor said: “Where I come from our big brothers who take drugs will be more motivated by football.”

Amai responded saying, “The big brothers who take drugs will be motivated if they also join the teams. Football helps in promoting unity.”

Dr Mnangagwa asked the learners to write an essay on the topic “Kuyaruka kwemwanakomana” (the maturing of the boy child) to check if they grasped all what they learnt during the duration of their camp.

The learners were happy with the training they received.

A grade seven pupil said he had met new friends at the camp.

“I am glad to have been part of the boys’ camp because we met new friends. We learnt to associate with others and perform household tasks which we never knew about. I am also glad that we were taught the effects of drugs as well as the need to focus on our school work so that we succeed in life,” he said.

This dovetailed with the remarks of another boy from Matabeleland North Province.

“I just do not know how best I can thank the First Lady for the good time that we had here. We learnt of the need to respect our parents, elders and our cultural norms and values. We were warned against drugs and engaging in sexual activities before the time was ripe.

“Our First Lady is a loving mother who advised us to focus on our schoolwork so that we pass and get good jobs,” he said.

The Minister of State for Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Marian Chombo urged the First Lady not to get tired of arranging such camps for the benefit of the nation.

“Amai, please do not tire of the great work that you are doing. You have touched many hearts, and you have changed many lives.

“Twenty or 30 years down the road, there is a child who will come to you saying I remember that day at Mazvikadei. I am now somebody in life because of that training that you gave me. We wish God to grant you strength and the ideas to keep organising,” she said. – Herald