THE Covid-19 pandemic is radically altering approaches to
physical contact, intimacy and family relations, thereby resulting in marriages
fraying under the pressure of physical distancing.
The deep-seated dilemma emerged last Friday during a
Covid-19 awareness campaign organised by First Lady, Amai Mnangagwa, at
Nyakuhwa Primary School in Makoni.
Traditional leaders sought guidance on the parameters of
physical distancing after a group of 50 elderly people had received food
hampers, blankets, face masks, hand sanitisers and detergents from the First
Lady’s Angel of Hope Foundation.
Headman Chikono let the cat out of the bag when he said he
had received numerous complaints from young men being denied conjugal rights
under the guise of physical distancing. Headman Chikono was seeking clarity on
where couples can draw the line.
“The lockdown presents a rare opportunity and inclination
to enjoy conjugal rights more, especially for young men in the villages.
“Yet their spouses are denying them conjugal rights citing
the need for physical distancing. Numerous young men have approached me with
their complaints. How can I handle such cases?”
“They said even kissing a loved one is being avoided. The
deprivation of conjugal rights is now threatening many marriages. What are the
parameters of physical distancing? What should the sexually-active population
do? This is a serious matter,” said Headman Chikono.
Although the Headman’s questions left the small audience in
stitches, facilitator Angel of Hope Foundation director, Mrs Chipiwa
Mundandanda, had to give well thought responses.
In observing cultural protocol, Mrs Mundandanda asked Chief
Makoni to respond.
While confirming receiving similar complaints from his
subjects, Chief Makoni said despite being a fundamental human need, conjugal
rights must be enjoyed responsibly.
“You can enjoy conjugal rights with your spouse. We do not
want covidivorces in this district. We want marriages to thrive and produce
‘corona babies’,” said Chief Makoni to wild applause from participants.
Chief Makoni, however, said it is not a good idea to be
intimidate with someone one does not stay with.
“I want to make this point very clear. This is not the best
time to sleep with someone you do not stay with. “This is where physical distancing becomes essential to
curtail the spread of Covid-19.”
Makoni District Medical Officer, Dr Tendai Nyafesa said
people need to be sexually responsible to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
“If you stay with your regular partner and both of you do
not have symptoms or likely exposure, yes you can enjoy your conjugal rights.
It might actually be a way to have fun and relieve pressure during this
stressful period. But if you are away from home, avoid physical contact and
avoid kissing,” said Dr Nyafesa, adding that any sexual act must be consensual.
“If it is not consensual, then it is rape, regardless of
your marital status.”
Mrs Mundandanda took time to explain how Covid-19 can be
prevented.
“Prevention is better than cure. It is for this reason that
the First Lady wants Makoni District to be empowered with information on how
the disease can be prevented. We do not want people in rural areas to be caught
unawares.
“As elderly people, you are authorities in your homes. You
are taking care of your grandchildren, and by targeting you we know the message
will get home,” she said.
It emerged during the meeting that some people have
misconceptions on Covid-19. Gogo Auxillia Zinyuku (65), of Gwende Village,
Makoni North, thanked the First Lady for the training and goodies.
“Physical distancing was difficult to observe at funerals
due to ignorance. These issues had not been adequately explained to us, and we
relied on distorted information from third parties.
“We are now better equipped and will discourage our
children and other villagers from attending overcrowded funerals and going into
public places without face masks, as well as dressing dead bodies without
protective clothing,” she said.
Gogo Shylet Chiukira (68), of Village A, Nyahukwe, said
they thought face masks were for those travelling to urban areas.
“We did not know that it is mandatory to wear masks even in
rural areas.
“We are grateful for the food hampers. Most elderly people
in the district are starving and unsure of where their next meal will come
from,” she said. Manica Post
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