The Sunday Mail
Tendai Rupapa in ZIMUNYA
HEALTH Ambassador First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa has applauded all citizens who were vaccinated against Covid-19, but said this was not a licence to snub protocols announced by the country’s health authorities who were working in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Masking up, sanitising and observing social distance, she said, were key in keeping the deadly pandemic at bay.
The First Lady made the remarks during an interactive session with the elderly, widows, widowers, the disabled and other vulnerable groups whom she engaged on the need to prevent Covid-19 which is wreaking havoc across the globe. The country has lost close to 4 000 people to the pandemic, with prospects of losing more if people keep snubbing vaccination and other prevention measures.
During the interactive session where she distributed blankets and foodstuffs — the First Lady also tackled juvenile delinquency, disrespect, child marriages and promoted traditional foods which have high nutritional value.
A senior citizen carries home blankets and the food hampers he received from First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa during a COVID 19 interactive discussion in Marange yesterday.
While applauding the stance taken by some people to get vaccinated, the First Lady said this was, however, not a licence to disregard laid down protocols.
She also urged the nation not to listen to people who were peddling lies against the vaccination programme.
“I have decided that I come to sit down with you over Covid-19. To prevent the disease we have to be vaccinated. Vaccination programmes have been there since time immemorial. Some people are peddling all sorts of lies. What did they say will happen if you get jabs?”
In response the elderly said they were told they would die.
“Do not listen to those without knowledge, only listen to our health officials who are working with the World Health Organisation and if we do so, we will emerge victorious. The President got his jab, while the Vice President was the first to do so. I also got my jab and none of us died. Musaterere vanofamba vachitaura nhema, ngatichengetedzei hutano nehupenyu hwedu,” said the First Lady.
The Mother of the nation invited those who were vaccinated to raise hands and when half the gathering raised hands, she applauded them for putting their safety and that of others first.
An elderly woman being vaccinated after a COVID 19 interactive session with First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s where she highlighted the benefits of being vaccinated and dispelling widespread misconceptions about the vaccination programme in Mutare yesterday
“Even if you get vaccinated, keep following the recommended protocols. Covering the nose and mouth is critical.
“Ndidzivirire ndigokudzivirirawo” (Protect me so that I also protect you should be your motto),” she said.
“We cannot move forward while leaving others behind without being vaccinated. If this pandemic persists, our economy will decline, children won’t attend school while we will no longer attend church services,” she said.
On funerals, the First Lady sought to know what people did in the event of death in the community.
Gogo Susan Muzerengwa said they attend funerals, but do not sit close to the bereaved.
“It does not give a good image not to attend funerals,” she said.
In response, the First Lady said it was not advisable for people to attend funerals in large numbers in this pandemic.
She implored people to first get vaccinated so that they attend social gatherings without health challenges.
“Therefore, if you want to attend funerals, churches and all gatherings, let us all get vaccinated to preserve life.
“As elders you are the repositories of knowledge and we expect a lot from you, but if you do not embrace vaccination, what will we do as your children if you succumb to the pandemic?” she said.
Gogo Florence Mafararikwa was applauded by the First Lady when she said she now puts her life first more than anything else.
“Personally, I do not attend funerals in this pandemic.
“It is better to commiserate with others over the phone to preserve life and health. It is better to be branded proud while protecting my health and that of my family. Let us leave only close relatives to attend funerals,” she said.
Amai Mnangagwa said in this era of Covid-19, it was inconsiderate to label someone proud if they do not attend funerals.
“Let’s not label others proud if they fail to attend funerals. They are protecting themselves and the lives of those around them. The Government is seeking vaccines for the benefit of everyone so let’s embrace the programme. I urge you in your numbers to get jabs because if you do so, the pandemic will be mild. As Health ambassador I urge you to be vaccinated and ignore lies,” she said.
She also promoted the consumption of traditional food which had high nutritional benefits.
“Yes you would be vaccinated to protect your health, but what else helps us protect our health?”
An elderly man poke about health traditional foods and the First Lady urged them to preserve for future use.
An elderly disabled woman sits with her blankets and food hamper received from First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s during an interactive session highlighting the benefits of being vaccinated and dispelling widespread misconceptions about the vaccination programme in Mutare yesterday.-Pictures: John Manzongo
The mother of the nation decried the lack of morals among today’s youths and asked the elderly how they courted during their time and they all emphasised good morals and behaviour.
“I want to bring out the issue of morals and decorum in the way we dress because this is not what our children are doing. What should we do with our children and some are getting married at a tender age,” the First Lady said.
An elderly woman concurred with the First Lady, saying the way today’s youths dressed was abhorrent.
“The way these children dress is humiliating, even their speech and movements. We are ashamed by the behaviour of today’s both girls and boys,” she said.
“But who is responsible for teaching these children,” the First Lady asked.
One of the participants, Gogo Ilah Matirekwe, said the blame lay squarely on the shoulders of parents and guardians.
“We as parents are to blame. We no longer have time to sit down with these children to teach them good morals,” she said while shaking her head in disapproval.
Gogo Loice Nyavhire said she was concerned that most children did not take kindly to being correct.
“These children refuse to be corrected. They say we are too far behind and they follow modern ways. During our time girls abstained from sex until after marriage and we listened to our parents. We are getting confused because of these children who are rushing to sleep with boys before marriage,” she said.
The First Lady spoke out candidly against juvenile delinquency.
“What will the nation come to if children are lost to sexual immorality which brings many diseases. Children are being wasted by drugs. Our elders, let us never tire in correcting our children. In the olden days people were united, but this is no longer the case. Extended families let’s love one another so that our children grow up well.
“Let family roots remain intact for generations to come. If you do not love one another, you cannot correct a cousin’s child because you will be saying he/she is not yours. Learn to forgive in the event of differences,” she said.
Amai Mnangagwa also decried the surge in child marriages and sought to know why this was on the increase.
“Why are we marrying off young children,” she asked.
In response, an elderly woman left people dumbfounded when she said she could not refuse lobola money when given by her in-laws.
“If a girl child falls pregnant and the boy brings money, how do I reject it? I just take it and they live together,” she said.
Sekuru Dickson Chikumba said the children of today had become too naughty such that they elope at tender ages.
“These children have become too naughty. Some leave for school but never come back. On the morrow a go-between will come saying they have your daughter and we cannot refuse the money because she would have eloped,” he said.
However, the First Lady said it was illegal to marry off young children.
“No, that is not the way. It is illegal to marry off an underage child. You should not accept that money. Accepting that money spawns bad things in the family, community and country at large.
“This actually causes death as that child may fail to give birth at a tender age. As mothers we lose a lot because the boy will continue with his education, but not so for the girl.
“Yes, the Government says the girl child can go back to school after giving birth, but even if she was bright, her concentration level is affected meaning her education is dead. We do not encourage killing children in this way,” she said.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution Nokuthula Matsikenyere praised the First Lady for her love.
“You love all your children and we are proud of you Amai.
“You do wonderful things for this country and today you have remembered the elderly in this cold weather and brought them blankets and food. Some people do not share, but you are different, you share whatever you get with all your children countrywide,” she said.
Due to the First Lady’s intervention yesterday, many people went for vaccination after the programme at the school where the meeting took place a sign that they had taken heed of the health ambassador’s plea.
