Women in Mpopoma, Bulawayo, gathered on Saturday for a community dialogue where they candidly shared their concerns about infidelity, fractured relationships, and the social challenges affecting both girls and boys in today’s society.
The Women’s Indaba, held at a local community centre, followed a similar men-only forum in May, which addressed mental health, relationship struggles and domestic pressures. Saturday’s session provided a platform for women to respond and speak about their own lived experiences.
Many women at the event, some of whom requested anonymity out of fear of judgement, said trust issues and cheating were at the heart of marital breakdowns.
“If there is no trust in a relationship, there’s no family that can be built,” one woman said. “A man who hides his wife from others is usually hiding something. When a man gets money, he begins to attract many women and the relationship suffers.”
She added: “Women can hide affairs, but when a man cheats, he just packs up and leaves.”
The discussion also turned to concerns about shifting gender roles and the behaviour of young women. One speaker suggested that a lack of humility among girls was contributing to instability in marriages.
“The girl child is growing up believing she can’t be told anything,” she said. “That attitude is affecting today’s marriages. Women should be pleasant and respectful to their husbands.”
Infidelity was a recurring theme, with one participant highlighting how men often deflect blame onto their wives.
“Men cheat, then expect the same treatment from their wives as if nothing happened,” she said. “There’s always a reason a woman may refuse conjugal rights. No woman does that without cause.”
The gathering also touched on the struggles faced by boys raised in single-parent households. A mother of two boys urged the community to do more to support young men without fathers.
“It’s hard raising boys alone,” she said. “They end up on street corners smoking and drinking. We need community leaders to run youth programmes that teach our boys how to grow into responsible men.”
Organisers of the event said the Women’s Indaba was meant to promote healing and honest dialogue, and more inclusive sessions with both men and women are planned.
“These forums are about opening up safe spaces where people can talk and listen,” said one organiser. “We believe open conversations can help build stronger families and healthier communities.”
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