SITUATED in a small corner a few kilometres from the
Beitbridge-Bulawayo highway in Mawabeni, Umzingwane District in Matabeleland
South is Gogo Violet Ncube (82)’s homestead where she has been living alone for
more than 20 years after her husband and only son passed away.
Old and infirm, Gogo MaNcube can no longer perform any
household chores, struggles to walk and relies on the benevolence of her
neighbour who cares for her.
Ordinarily, one would expect the octogenarian to be under
the care of her children or grandchildren but she lives a lonely life.
However, yesterday, she got a surprise visit from First
Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa who showed her the love she last experienced
years ago by assisting with household chores before emphasising to the
community the importance of caring for the elderly and reviving the concept of
the extended family.
When Amai Mnangagwa arrived at the homestead she wasted no
time and cleaned the small bedroom hut that Gogo MaNcube sleeps in, swept the
floor and smeared it with fresh cow dung (ukusinda), a long tradition practised
in most parts of the rural areas in the country. After that, the First Lady
helped in thatching another hut at the homestead.
She was assisted by women from the community and left many
in awe as she exhibited great skills in thatching. After thatching she went on to serve a meal
she had assisted in preparing.
She served the local Chief Gwebu, the Minister of State for
Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs Cde Abednego Ncube and Gogo MaNcube too.
The First Lady said she showed the gesture as a way of
exemplifying what young people must do as a way of taking care of the elderly
who are fountains of knowledge. She said the younger generation needs to take
note of how to live a fruitful and fulfilling life from the elderly and that is
only possible through day-to-day interaction.
Addressing the elderly that had gathered at Mawabeni
Primary School after cleaning Gogo MaNcube’s homestead, the First Lady said she
would keep on assisting people from all walks of life and to help uphold
traditional values.
“I am non-partisan. I do not select who to help in my
programmes. I like living with the community. I am here for the elderly women,
not for political reasons. We need to ensure that we maintain our cultural
norms of caring for the elderly. In some families it is sad that others do not
speak to each other, they get each other arrested and the roles of aunts are no
longer known. The extended family is no more and that needs to change,” she
said.
She bemoaned that Gogo MaNcube lives alone at her advanced
age.
“Young ladies must care for the elderly. When we speak of
caring for them, no politics or religion is involved. I went to Gogo Violet
Ncube’s home who is 82, she stays alone but what impressed me was that she is
being cared for by a neighbour.
“Her husband died 20 years ago, her only son died too a
long time ago. I’m asking you to think deep about Gogo Ncube. I thank the
neighbours and ask God to bless them for the good job they are doing,” she
said.
“If we look at it, her relatives are no longer near but
neighbours who uphold ubuntu are there and taking care of her and that is what
we should do. I saw her happiness when we arrived that she had seen her family.
“It is sad that we cannot control the young ones anymore,
vazukuru no longer visit ana gogo because they are said to bewitch them which
is not fair.”
The First Lady applauded young women in Mawabeni for being
good examples of well-groomed women.
She also spoke on the need for the institution of marriage
to be respected by young people. Gogo MaNcube did not hide her joy and said the
visit by the First Lady meant everything to her.
“I am very happy that she came to visit me today. She
assisted me in getting my home cleaned and even cooked for me. As you can see,
I am old and cannot help myself but the people around me are assisting in
caring for me,” she said
The First Lady, through her Angel of Hope Foundation, also
donated mealie-meal, sugar, washing and bathing soap, rice and cooking oil to
the elderly and chiefs in the area. She also donated sets of clothes and accessories
to expecting mothers. Sunday News
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