Those who lived the longest are all men. Although less is
said about matriarchs, it’s quite clear that men lived longer back then.
Sadly, centuries later an average Zimbabwean male is
expected to live for about 61, 2 years with statistics showing that men account
for more deaths in the country compared to women. Women live significantly
longer than men as they have a higher life expectancy of 68 years.
Life expectancy refers to the number of years a person can
expect to live and it is based on an estimate of the average age that members
of a particular population group will be when they die.
According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency report
based on population and housing census carried in 2022, throughout all
age-groups, males had higher mortality rates compared to females.
The report shows that 120 070 deaths were recorded during
the census with 53, 6 percent of the dead being men and 46,4 percent being
women.
Preliminary national census results revealed that females
constitute the majority of the population, numbering 7 889 421 or 52 percent
compared to the male population of 7 289 588 (48 percent).
In terms of births, males also dominated as the national
sex ratio at births stands at 103 males per 100 females.
Padare/Enkundleni Men’s Forum gender programmes officer
Ziphongezipho Ndebele said poor health seeking behaviour and culture of silence
amongst men was the cause of those deaths.
He said main are unlikely to open up about issues affecting
them hence they are more at risk to lifestyle related deadly diseases like
depression, hypertension and diabetes.
“I think it’s true that more men are dying compared to
women. If we take a look into our communities you will find that we have elder
women than men. Women live a bit longer than men as males don’t like seeking
healthcare services. They only go to hospital when they are really sick and
diseases are likely to cause harm in men compared to women,” said Ndebele.
“Men like taking risks because of societal pressures, men
overwork just to remain relevant in society. Drinking and driving and abuse of
drugs and alcohol is common in men and the same take up dangerous activities
like illegal mining.”
Ndebele said men are also less socially connected as they
only talk about business when they meet.
“That social disconnection causes them to easily fall into
depression than women hence the high prevalence of suicide. They don’t share
social issues or seek counselling mainly because they were taught not to cry
etc. They die from silent killers without knowing, and if these issues do not
change, the trend will be maintained,” added Ndebele.
Men’s Conference Podcast director Makhosi Sibanda said the
high number of deaths amongst men is socially.
“Emotionally, men are not really strong so they don’t
socialise a lot they keep to themselves, they hardly share. That makes it easy
for them to be stress and even develop depression. Men are daring, go any
lengths just to provide for their families and they can easily succumb to
accidents, dangerous eating behaviours and drinking behaviours which can cut
their lives short,” said Sibanda.
Community Working Group on Health director Itai Rusike said
it was interesting to note that in Biblical times, men lived longer than women.
“Interestingly in the Bible it is accounts of men who lived
long lives! Abraham 400 years, Noah 300, Moses 200, we heard Sarah had a baby
at 90 when her husband was 100 years,” he said.
“Science has studies that have shown female foetuses have
more resilience than males and vice versa when it comes to survival,” he said. Chronicle
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