Zezuru women and hawking

RUSSO LUMA | Friday August 27, 2010 00:00

'We don't rely on men financially. We have to get up and sell whatever products we have to make our own money.

As early as six years of age a Zezuru girl is given goods by her mother to start selling. So, they grow up like this, until they become women,' said one Zezuru woman, Manaka Firimbai. She said this is how they avoid being financially reliant on men.

Manaka says as early as three years-old a Zezuru girl is taught how to do household chores such as washing dishes. As far as the Zezurus are concerned the earlier the better, towards inculcating their cultural values.

Manaka goes on to say that young as they are, they never refuse to do as their parents ask. This is done to prepare them for marriage.

'When it comes to marriage, they get married when they are 16 or 17 years old. The groom does not pay dowry as is the case in other tribes. He just buys the food that is eaten on the marriage day: loaves of bread, chickens and many other food items required.

He also buys a suit for the bride's father, a blanket, a pair of shoes and a cloth for her mother,' Manaka said.She continued; 'The bride's mother buys her daughter all that she will need in her new home. If her husband has not yet moved from his parents' home, she has to make sure that she washes for everybody in that family no matter how big it is.

Another Zezuru woman chips in, 'when she has her first child, I as the mother have to take care of her as she will be in confinement'.

So unlike other tribes where the children wait for their parents to provide, the Zezuru kids grow up learning to bring income into the home.

So it has become quite a common sight to see Zezuru women of all ages selling all sorts of things. This includes sweet potatoes, eggs, airtime and so on.