The Sunday Mail
Tendai Rupapa in MWENEZI
WOMEN from Mwenezi were equipped with skills in detergent-making and participated in a traditional meal cookout competition, thanks to First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa’s tireless efforts to boost the nation’s nutrition, fight poverty and empower women through the use of their hands.
It was a train-the-trainer programme, where beneficiaries were given starter packs to teach other members of their communities.
The projects also help curb domestic violence cases, which are largely triggered by financial challenges.
The traditional meal cookout competition saw the women preparing mouth-watering dishes that boast high nutritional value and medicinal properties.
Girls pound various types of grain using pestles and mortars so they could prepare traditional meals during the Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba Programme organised by First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa in Chiredzi. — Pictures: John Manzongo
Amai Mnangagwa, who has been promoting the uptake of traditional foods throughout the country, witnessed a showcase of the Tshangani traditional cuisine, including fish in milk, which they call ruraza; mxhanxa; mutakura; mutongoza; pumpkin leaves; okra; dried vegetables in peanut butter; road runner; sorghum sadza; madora and dried beef in peanut butter; nhopi and mbwirembwire.
The First Lady was so happy to see the women preparing various dishes on open fires, with the scent of the food tempting those nearby to have a bite.
“I am happy to see mothers and grandmothers showcasing our traditional dishes. This food is healthy and is encouraged in hospitals because it combines with medicine to make someone heal fast. These days, people were shunning traditional dishes, but we encourage people to go back to our way of life. We are thankful to God that our country has healthy food. I was asking Mwenezi women as to whether their children enjoy these dishes and they affirmed and I wish to thank them for that. This place has high temperatures, which are conducive for traditional grains, so let us grow them,” she said to applause.
A member of the community, Mrs Juliet Shoko, praised Dr Mnangagwa for promoting indigenous dishes.
“We are thankful for the traditional dishes we prepared because they build bodies, prevent diseases and make our children grow healthy and not susceptible to kwashiorkor. We thank our mother wo has visited us. Staying healthy helps us develop as a country and these vegetables like mowa and munyemba help prevent hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular challenges. We are a blessed land with food that heals,” she said, happiness written all over her face.
The same views were shared by Mrs Norah Elias. “I am thankful for this programme brought by our mother, which promotes our traditional dishes that help prevent many ailments. This food has better nutrients than GMOs and we do not buy the food as we grow it on our own and just process through grinding and pounding. Madora are there in the forests and we pay no money to get this food,” she said with pride.
Mrs Musa Sibanda said the First Lady’s programme was of national importance as it made people embrace indigenous food, which is nutritious and cheap.
“This programme helps us prepare for our children healthy food and we do not get idle time. The moment we get idle time, we start doing bad things, so we are happy for what Amai is doing for the nation,” she said.
Similar sentiments were shared by Ms Violet Zhou.
“The important thing about this traditional food is that it is easy to find. If we want fish, we catch on our own as we rest after tilling the land. Sorghum is drought-tolerant just like millet. Vegetables like nyevhe grow on their own and we just harvest. We grow cowpeas and make mutakura for our children. Rudhe grows on its own and it gives men strength. We thank Amai for the work she is doing. Our children did not know of this food, but Amai is making our children know our traditional food and utensils,” she said.
Talking to the women who successfully completed a two-day training on manufacturing liquid laundry soap, toilet cleaner and petroleum jelly, courtesy of Dr Mnangagwa — through her Angel of Hope Foundation, the First Lady said it was important for women to share knowledge so that their communities develop.
She urged them to form groups in order to establish sound businesses and expand into other projects.
It was a joyous occasion as the women received certificates and starter packs to kick-start the training in communities.
“Do not lock your gates but share the knowledge with others. We want you to train others who could not make it here. I urge you also to form groups and do the project on a large scale and you make more money. If you join hands in threes or fours, your tables will be awash with the products so that whoever comes to buy will not find you without supplies. We want everyone who comes to find something to buy and that is how a business is started.
“We do not want to have short supplies; let us grow these projects and let’s spin the cash to start other projects. Others went into Agric4She projects like goat rearing and poultry. Monies from those ventures will start another project. I expect these projects to grow. Mwenezi and Chingwizi must ensure the projects grow so that we keep away poverty, and domestic violence will surely decrease.
“I know women you tell your husbands that you brought me here but are making me suffer, I have removed those thoughts through this project. Once trained, do not throw away those notes because I follow up wherever I invested. Once you start something, it must thrive and that is why I have given you starter packs so that you hit the ground running and there is nothing to wait for. I urge you to train others and work in groups so that you produce more.
“Do not start squandering money the moment you sell something because you risk spending the seed money. Always put money aside so that you are able to stock raw materials so that you realise a lot of profit as you proceed with the business. I urge you to exercise financial discipline at all times. Once you work hard, you shall have as many hairdos as you would want; so, let us get to the ground and work,” she said.
Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira praised the First Lady for her economically beneficial programmes.
“As Masvingo province, we are happy with your visit. Your children have come out in their numbers to welcome you. The work you are doing helps cultivate peace in the homes. You are uplifting families that were lagging behind through giving women income-generating projects.
“You are promoting our cultural values as well so that our children grow up morally upright. You have also helped restore our culture, which was washed away and our children know where we are coming from and heading to,” he said.
Beneficiaries of the detergent-making programme were so upbeat and eager to start producing to sustain their families.
Said Mrs Virginia Pahlela: “I am happy with this programme, where we have been trained to make detergents so that we succeed. Our mother has done wonders and we wish to support others back home. We thank you, Amai, for coming to Mwenezi and we have learnt to make liquid laundry soap, which helps clean stubborn stains from our clothes.”
One of the beneficiaries recounted the processes they take when making the detergents and thanked the First Lady for helping the women of Mwenezi to unlock their potential.
Women who participated in the cooking contest received hampers and fruit trees from the First Lady, while those who were trained in detergent-making received starter packs and certificates.
Chiefs and all those who came were given foodstuff, while expectant mothers received newborn baby kits, thanks to Dr Mnangagwa.
