The Sunday Mail
IN Shona, lies are called “manyepo”, while in Ndebele they are called “amanga”.
Lies are largely defined as information that is untruthful, deceitful and false.
They are responsible for endless conflicts in families, communities, nations and even the world.
Also called “kujuta”, “kunena bodza”, “kusona bhodhoro”, “fibs” and “vharazi”, among a long list of names, lies have even resulted in death in some instances.
Iraq was destroyed because the West had peddled lies that its late leader, Saddam Hussein, possessed weapons of mass destruction.
He also ended up being hanged.
While the world is drifting towards the abolition of capital punishment, it is this writer’s belief that liars deserve no mercy. In fact, they deserve death, even by firing squad.
Lies are so embedded in some people’s DNA that they end up believing the false information they peddle.
Women are the major victims.
If the truth be told, they are often lied to by suitors who will be trying every trick in the book to steal their hearts.
“Rume risinganyepi hariroori”, goes a Shona proverb, which can be loosely translated to “A man who cannot lie will never get married”.
But the extent to which some men go is the stuff of legend.
A certain car washer who lied to his victim about his identity even impregnated her after worming his way into her heart by using borrowed cars and clothes.
“The girl fainted when she finally learnt the truth. He told her his name was Peter, yet he was called Thomas.
“The cars he drove and clothes he wore when visiting her actually belonged to friends.
“What was worse is that he had even introduced the unsuspecting lady to a fake mother whom he bribed to claim that he was her son,” I heard at the bar last weekend.
Did you know that some people lie about where they stay and where they work to achieve their selfish interests?
Some beautiful ladies are failing to get into meaningful relationships because of liars who needlessly tarnish their image and reputation, which discourages would-be life partners.
“Siyana naye, akambobvisa nhumbu. She also once did time in prison for theft, so beware, unless you want to be married to a criminal and raise a family with an untrustworthy woman,” you often hear jealous people saying.
Employers, too, are not spared.
Some people rise to lofty positions in organisations on the strength of fake academic qualifications they buy from the streets of Harare, only to betray themselves due to failure to perform the least of functions expected of them.
Equally, some employees who crave extra cash to splash on booze and women often lie about tragedies in their homes so that they can be given loans.
People who lie have also been responsible for the collapse of marriages and strong relationships by peddling false information.
Individuals who tell lies are worse than doctors who prescribe wrong drugs to their patients as this results in unnecessary complications and even death.
A person who tells lies has the capacity to kill even those who have done no harm to him, hence the need to stay away from such people.
Inotambika mughetto.
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