A community that CARES.

I come from a country that inculcated the term, 'musha mukadzi' meaning women are in charge. At face value this sounds dope. However,in actual sense it is not to say women are bestowed with so much matriarchal dominance in households but it means women have the burden of being strong, tolerating a lot, and rising like phoenix putting everyone else first before themselves. On paper,it sounds like a royal sceptre, but in reality it has for generations left women wallowing in depression but for the sake of their homes to stand,they continue being "strong."

Well, for me the biggest problem isn't that older women have to be strong- experience domestic violence, cheating, lack of resources and continue to hold the house together in silence. For me the ick is that young girls are taught to have this "strength" from as young as they can utter a word. Girls are told to be strong ,against menstrual pain,they are told to be strong even when playing house ,they are given that generational burden of musha mukadzi. It's the terms ,even in the global space like ,"iron lady" that are misconstrued.

Given this background, there is no room for mental health consideration. There is no space to breakdown and feel things-remember you have to be strong! If you are seen to crumble then you are not woman enough. You are just an impostor, how will you even face childbirth? I remember having my wisdom tooth taken out and being encouraged not to cry because childbirth would be worse. I held it all in,I wanted to be woman enough!

Women Writers Support Network-Africa(WWSN-A) initiative is a writing therapy and networking organisation that brings together women of all ages to breathe, share experiences, and just for that while realise that they don't always have to uphold ,musha mukadzi everything.

Girls are told to share their stories of how they are feeling at a particular time using illustrations or words. From such exercises ,we have unearthed shocking stories of abuse or acute depression that was breeding but going unnoticed at school,home or society in general. This tool encourages girls to realise that the most important person is THEMSELVES before anyone else. It teaches them to identify toxic behaviours not embracing them as normal or the need to be a musha mukadzi kinda girl.

Being an initiative for all ages,we also prompt mothers to go on a self healing journey using same tools of storytelling ,writing therapy and conversations inorder to stop generational toxic behaviours. This helps not to put the same burden on their young girls to carry into the future.

It's time we stop feeling guilty about not having it all together, time to realise that our mental wellness matters and time to cut ties with any generational toxicity. Musha mukadzi isn't a derogatory term, but some tenets of it have been abused. I still stand proudly as a homemaker ,musha mukadzi,but on my terms. I don't tolerate abuse, I don't always have my ducks in a row ,and most of all I'm not in any competition with a fellow woman but foster sisterhood and this is what I want every girl,every African girl,every Zimbabwean girl to remember!