First Lady launches Afrikana Family Humanism Programme in Harare

Tendai Rupapa

Good communication skills, faithfulness and respect are key in building strong marriages in which children are brought up morally upright well, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa has said.

She made these remarks before thousands of people who attended the launch of her educative Afrikana Family Humanism Programme in Harare yesterday.

Harare province was the ninth launch of the popular programme, in the country, with only one province remaining, as the First Lady takes a leading role in mending broken homes ensuring both men and women live in harmony while raising their children in a dignified manner.

Afrikana family humanism looks at the personality of people, Ubuntu/Hunhu and how families live.

Zimbabwe, an African country, has its norms and values, which the First Lady is urging people to abide by.

The programme is addressing a significant gap in marriages and its implementation has had a positive impact, which is bringing families together.

In her quest to find tangible solutions to issues affecting families, Amai Mnangagwa separated men from women for initial discussions before addressing the combined group later.

Some married women openly admitted during the lively programme that they had resorted to cheating after getting a raw deal from their spouses who often left them wallowing in poverty and loneliness to find comfort in the arms of other women.

Addressing the women, the mother of the nation said counselled against any form of cheating.

“Madzimai, I have come to discuss with you all issues concerning vanamai kunyanya varimudzimba. Everywhere I have gone with this programme, all women are saying they are fed up and are giving up on marriage but will not leave their husband’s homes. They are saying we play the same tune, kutamba irikurira and if caught, we start from there. They said Amai, yes you taught us to pray for our homes but we are now tired nezvirikuita vana baba. The women said the time had come to turn the tables as the bird had grabbed the catapult and it was now time for men to pray for their homes. Asi ndinoti revenge cheating haina kunaka. Here in Harare, I have come to hear from you as to whether the case is the same and whether the hunter here had become the hunted?” she said.

The women shouted; “ Yes Amai, ndizvo chaizvo kuno kuHarare titori pamberi and we want to reduce these men to size.”

“This is what I have come to discuss so that we counsel one another and teach one another as women. This is what prompted me to start this programme called Afrikana Family Humanism. Men are on their own discussing their own issues and we shall meet collectively later. My desire is for us to build our families. Are you there to stress your spouses or to build homes? We want to come up with something concrete and constructive. Let’s feel free to vent out issues on our hearts and seek a way forward. As a solution is found for every problem shared.”

Amai Mnangagwa brought along speakers who took turns to address certain issues.

Reverend Nelly Gwatidzo from AFM paid tribute to the First Lady for her educative programme.

“Amai, we are thankful for your constructive programme. These men cause us too much pain, they are real animals. They have lots of girlfriends whose numbers they save in their phones as either Plumber or Electrician and the like. They actually gossip about their wives with their lovers. They pounce on every woman hazvina basa kuti murume iyeye is a doctor, a lawyer or even a pastor. They are like predators on the prowl.

“But as women, let’s talk, were these men born predatory or we made them so? Are we bathing at our homes or do we wake up without even brushing our teeth and spend the day like that until the husband returns from work? Where did you cast the smartness of your youth? Show men that you are still marketable such that he is afraid to lose you. We say no to women who spend the day with a pulling sock in the head and go about gossiping at the expense of cooking for the family.

“The other challenge is that women fancy themselves police officers in the home without training. Men are having dockets opened against them every day by their wives and the bedroom now resembles a courtroom such that even a case that occurred two years ago is pulled off the files in the bedroom. Men do not like this. Fights are part and parcel of marriage but let’s correct one another peacefully and lovingly,” she said.

Rev Gwatidzo attributed most domestic violence cases to the issue of conjugal rights.

Overseer Abigail Masunda from ZAOGA implored women to use their hands and assist men in raising the family by lessening the burden on the husband.

“If a man is strained financially, this leads to domestic violence. The Bible counsels that women were created as helpers, therefore are we fulfilling this role in choosing things that bode well for our families?” she said.

She also spoke about the effects of laziness and lack of hygiene.

Good communication, Overseer Masunda said, was essential.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Reverend Mary Chiwara of Methodist Church who described the First Lady’s intervention as timely.

“Amai, you have done well to bring this programme which returns women to the role they were created for. As women we hold the lives of our families therefore, we must stand firm in our rightful positions. We should have self-confidence. As a woman be firm and do not leave your families because of side chicks. Where will you be going when you vowed to stick by one another? Fix your challenges and seek a common ground. Set an example of how you want your husband to be respected, especially by your children. Do not speak ill about your husband with the children as they will turn against him,” she said.

The wife to Chief Seke, Mrs Naume Chimanikire praised the First Lady for her quest to mend broken homes and foster unity.

She said as chief’s wives they also learnt a lot from Amai enabling their families to live in love and harmony.

Mrs Chimanikire however bemoaned that traditional courts were inundated with marriage collapses, a case in point being that of a 68-year-old woman who dragged her 80-year-old husband to court for pushing her out in favour of a 20-year-old new wife.

“At that age divorcing, what will the children say? Men are stressing women in the homes,” she said as she also accused women of infidelity after many were hurled to court by their husbands for taking lovers home.

The First Lady implored women to vent their feelings. – Herald