The Sunday Mail
Tendai Rupapa in Kanyemba
Education is a critical enabler of economic growth and prosperity and the Doma community in the Zambezi valley has begun to embrace it.
The community was previously reclusive with education not being part of their day-to-day living.
Most of the community members neither have national identity documents nor birth certificates.
However, targeted projects spearheaded through the First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s Angel of Hope Foundation are gradually improving their well-being.
During her interactions with the Chikunda-speaking community, Amai Mnangagwa urged them to take education seriously.
In Mariga village, few children used to attend a makeshift school, but the number of school-going children have since increased, with 352 children now enrolled at Mariga Primary School.
Government is currently constructing a new school in the area after interventions by the First Lady.
Elderly villagers in the area are now willing to enrol for adult education.
Mrs Itiwe Vadiwe, who does not know her age and has eight children, said she never went to school.
Of her eight children, only three are going to school.
“My youngest child must be 13-years-old and he is in Grade Two,” she said.
“I got married when I was young because I had nothing to do as I was not going to school.
“Even four of my children are already married. The other girl got married when she was 15 (years) and they never went to school.
“We now have knowledge of the benefits of education; therefore, since we never got the chance to do so, we want to go back to school.”
Another villager, Mrs Senzeria Kamayamba — a mother of four — is also willing to take up adult education.
Amai Mnangagwa, who is the Health and Child Care ambassador, also facilitated the construction of a community health post in Mariga last year.
Mashonaland Central acting provincial medical director Mrs Elizabeth Manjonjori said Mariga health post is assisting the community.
“I would like to applaud the First Lady for the developments done for the Doma people, one of them being the construction of a health post in Mariga village, which was handed over to the community in July last year.
“Due to regular visits to the health post, there is improved personal hygiene such as grooming, nail care, bathing, dental care and prenatal care among the community.”
Mrs Manjonjori said in the past, the community lacked health education, especially on family planning.
“Child spacing is now being done using long-term methods; hence, they are now practicing family planning following teaching sessions at the health post.
“They lacked knowledge on family planning methods.”
The First Lady also initiated a community nutrition gardening project in the area, which is now flourishing,
“When they visit the health post, the villagers are taught on the importance of balanced diet,” Mrs Manjonjori said.
“In addition to that, the Doma women, who never used to visit the clinic, now know the importance of children monthly growth monitoring. They are bringing their children to the health post for immunisation and vaccination to prevent them from diseases.
“They are also now seeking early treatment, something they never used to do as they were reluctant to interact with people outside their culture.
“Male involvement in the seeking of health services has greatly improved; however, we still have some challenges, as men have not yet accepted voluntary medical male circumcision.”
Angel of Hope Foundation also introduced sustainable projects such as sewing, knitting and cooking in the same village.
Various sporting activities — modelling and cooking competitions — were conducted yesterday, bringing life to the Doma community.
A 14-member community band, Orchestra Kwazvo, which uses home-made instruments, provided entertainment.
