First Lady launches Midlands chapter of Widows Association
Tendai Rupapa
EMPOWERMENT champion First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday torched wild celebrations in the mining town of Zvishavane where she launched the Midlands chapter of the First Lady’s Widows Association and provided a consignment of goods for the beneficiaries to start income-generating projects as part of a multi-pronged mission to transform lives, sustain livelihoods and promote dignified livelihoods.
The consignment included pushcarts, drinks, sugar, rice, snacks, tissue roles, maize meal, cooking oil, fruit juices, cornflakes, instant porridge, macaroni and also chicken feed for the widows in all the eight districts to start businesses and realise income to look after their families.
Midlands becomes the 9th province to benefit from the empowerment programme.
Amai Mnangagwa also held an interactive session with them where she inculcated in them the value of hard work, personal respect and tackled the age-old frosty relations between mothers-in-law and their daughters-in-law.
An organiser par excellence, Dr Mnangagwa immediately ensured elections were held to select committees that will be running the various income-generating projects to ensure project sustenance and success.
To add colour to the event, IYASA provided a play showcasing the trials and tribulations of widows.
“I am happy to see you all today from all the eight districts. A mother is important and you are supposed to be respected and placed in your rightful positions. Are you still that woman or you already have nicknames coined because of bad deeds? What you will say will be a lesson to other widows in all provinces,” she said.
The women in response said in their communities widows are called “mazakela”.
Another respondent said widows were branded prostitutes.
“They label us road runner because we do not sit in one place as we traverse the road tichiyenda kumakuhwa.”
Yet another widow said they were accused of killing their husbands. The First Lady concurred with the women.
“All you have said, we saw it depicted in the IYASA play that was showcased by our children which taught us a lot of things. We saw the challenges faced by widows. Today I have come with projects through my Widows’ Association so that we get the wherewithal and work to look after our families. I am doing this in all provinces and we shall have competitions assessing those who would have worked hard. I want you all to do businesses. In the year 2013 when I was still an MP, I formed projects including mukando in Chirumhanzu. I am part of the mukando, I am still in to motivate other women. In December we will be sharing our things. Through this mukando, some now have houses, stands, cars, kombis, shops, household goods and furniture etc through working hard. Therefore, I have come to start projects for you,” she said.
The First Lady paid tribute to her Angel of Hope Foundation’s partners for their continued support, enabling her to unlock projects for the needy.
“When you are widowed you are not supposed to be a beggar. I want people who work for themselves using their hands. I also want you to work with your children so that they also acquire knowledge on self-help projects and not spend time seeking assistance. Even Angel of Hope Foundation partners who are helping me are keen to witness the success of the businesses,” she said.
The mother of the nation also tackled the age-old frosty relations between mothers-in-law and their daughters-in-law.
“You daughters-in-law how are you living with your widowed mothers-in-law?” she asked.
In response, Mrs Gladys Chauneki said: “I got married after my father-in-law had passed on. My mother-in-law welcomed me well and to this day we are still good friends. My own mother passed on and she is now my mother.”
Another elderly woman weighed in saying: “I wish to speak as a mother-in-law. I am a widow and I lost my husband while my two sons were young and I sent them to school. Truly, I feel jealous when they cede groceries to their wives who then give me a small share. Even if I need money, my sons tell me to ask from their wives. The wives do not reject but the fact that it comes through them pains me because I schooled my children alone.”
One daughter-in-law admitted to not having good relations with her mother-in-law.
“To say the truth, I never enjoyed good relations with my mother-in-law until she passed on. She would gossip about me and wanted to rule my household oblivious to the fact that her son is married.”
Another daughter-in-law spoke along the same lines.
“With my mother-in-law we were oil and water until her death because she accused me of casting a spell on her son. Even her death did not pain me as I said good riddance,” she said.
Yet another contributor said most women preferred grandchildren from their daughters more than their sons.
“If the daughter-in-law is bought a 20kg pack of sugar by my son, she gives me a cup but my daughter gives me the whole pack so I treat her children as gold,” she said.
Amai took time to instil peace at homes, encouraging mothers-in-law and their daughters in-law to co-exist peacefully.
Elections were held to select committees from all the 8 districts and the leadership will be working with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development in overseeing the projects and giving feedback to the mother of the nation.
Amai Mnangagwa also took them through lessons on financial discipline.
She congratulated those who had been selected to head the various committees.
“I wish to congratulate those who have been elected, but we do not want to hear of challenges in the future.
“Everything here is being left behind, but it is your test case to see how you will handle these. Your ability will make us have more partners coming in to assist you. Those pushcarts already have drinks inside and you start making money today.
“None of the proceeds should line anyone’s pockets, no one will collect and go about munching the profits.
“f you see anyone eating these things, charge them there and there. I wish to thank my Angel of Hope Foundation partners who made it possible for us together here as women and share our challenges.
“We can only repay them through honesty. Work hard and do not kill this project.
“When successful at district level, we shall then do the projects in our respective wards. I know you will bring results and we cannot lag behind other provinces.
“We need to make money and share profits only after we are fully stocked. I shall be receiving reports on how you will be fairing and I trust that you shall be doing a great job, thank you,” she said to applause.
Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Service (ZPCS) chaplain Christine Phiri said it was critical for widows to firm up and work for themselves and their families.
“My beloved, we have been gathered by the First Lady today because she knows widows are delicate. She knows that death separates and you were pained.
“She is saying leave that corner, wipe your tears and accept that your husband is gone,” she said before bursting into the hymn “Nyarara kuchema”.
Chaplain Phiri said the First Lady enjoined widows to dust themselves, wake up and work for their children.
“The First Lady is saying now that your spouse has passed on, does that make you have multiple partners? What will children in the home learn from you?
“Our mother is moving with the aim of promoting dignity among women. If you wish to remarry, our mother is saying use the correct channels and be married properly. Some are getting involved in projects enunciated by the First Lady like Agric4she and digging for food while others spend time at the growth point dancing to the radio, the choice is yours.
“I am one of those who lost their loved ones and thought I couldn’t live without a man before I started frequenting bars. I then discovered all was vanity.
“God was merciful to me and the First Lady taught me to use my hands. All you get in the bars are diseases. I am a living testimony.
“Now, our mother is using her mobile hospital and mobile clinic so that women, including us widows are screened for diseases including cancer free of charge.
“Our mother has love for us and as women, the ball is in our court. Prove that you are a dignified woman and think about the future. Amai is also teaching good hygiene, let us promote hygiene and keep diseases at bay. In conclusion, Amai is saying when you lose your loved one, accept, wipe your tears and look after the children,” she said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Evangelist Nelly Gwatidzo.
“I have been sent by the First Lady to ask as to what people who come to commiserate with us will be crying for?”
In response some said they will be pained by the children left behind.
“True, the most painful thing is the welfare of the children. But our mother is saying be gallant, gird your loins and look after the children.
“When your husband passed on, he did not go with your hands, neither did he go with your brains so why do we fail to use our hands? Where is the inheritance that was left behind? Are we using it to look after the children or we are squandering it with boyfriends?
“Our mother is asking whether we are not driving a wedge between the children and their father’s kinsfolk? She is saying our traditional values must be valued including getting along and uniting as relatives,” she said.
IYASA performed a play that highlighted some of the challenges faced by widows. Through the play, the arts group also indicated the need for widows to be self-sustained and live dignified lives.
The programme beneficiaries sang praises to the mother of the nation for her thoughtfulness and quest to mould a morally upright society.
Mrs Idha Manokore (62) said she had been given an lifeline.
“I am so grateful to the First Lady for the great love she has shown to us. We were looked down upon as widows and we never thought anyone cared for us.
“Today our First Lady has shown us great love and has made a huge commitment to see us thrive,” she said.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Mrs Pretty Chinzou.
“What the First Lady has done for us is unprecedented. Since my birth over 70 years ago I had never seen such a person with a heart of gold.
“I have been wallowing in poverty since my husband’s death 10 years ago and struggling to put food on the table for my orphaned grandchildren.
“Now that she has given us a start, I want to repay her love with hard work and we shall invite her here one day to see the fruits of her work. May God bless her,” she said.
Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube said his province felt honoured to host the First Lady.
“We have been afforded the opportunity to receive Her Excellency the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa at this important gathering of bringing together widows from the Midlands Province here in Zvishavane.
“Our First Lady, as you know started a lot of programmes which include free health checks, caring for and educating orphans among many others.
“Only yesterday, you showed love to our children through a school feeding programme in Shurugwi here in the Midlands Province. The works that you do gratify us here in the Midlands Province and are focused on fulfilling the work of our Head of State His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa through the projected Vision 2030 of far improved living standards by the year 2030.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we need to thank and praise the First Lady for backing the Second Republic’s development programmes through many initiatives like farming through Agric4she which has transformed Agriculture 8.0 vision accelerator model, the school feeding programme, promoting technical skills through working together with her Angel of Hope Foundation and through her partnership with the Zimbabwe Open University, she has transformed many lives,” Minister Ncube said.
The First Lady also donated food hampers to people for domestic consumption.
Traditional chiefs also received food hampers and blankets. – Herald