IN a room filled with laughter, candid confessions and quiet reflection at Zimbali Gardens on Saturday, globally recognised marriage coaches Tony and Alisa DeLorenzo delivered the first Zimbabwe edition of their One Extraordinary Marriage teachings.
Hosted by Zimworx, the conference drew nearly 100 couples, blending lived experiences with research distilled into what the pair call the six pillars of intimacy.
Married for more than three decades, the DeLorenzos anchored their message in personal testimony — openly sharing their struggles characterised by financial collapse, miscommunication and moments that brought them to the brink of divorce.
“We didn’t know what we didn’t know about marriage,” said Tony, setting the tone for a candid, cross-cultural conversation on love, resilience, and the architecture of intimacy.
“We had three choices — divorce now, divorce later or rebuild. We chose to rebuild.”
Their framework, developed over five years of research and more than 900 podcast episodes, challenges narrow societal definitions of intimacy.
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“Society has hijacked the word; intimacy is closeness and connection and not just sex,” Alisa noted.
The six pillars — emotional, physical, financial, spiritual, recreational and sexual intimacy — were presented as learnable skills rather than innate traits.
Emotional intimacy, described as the “workhorse,” drew particular attention.
“Your spouse is not a mind reader,” Tony said, prompting laughter and nods across the room.
Financial intimacy revealed another layer of vulnerability, with the couple disclosing a US$50 000 debt early in their marriage.
“We didn’t talk about money, and it nearly broke us,” Alisa said, urging couples to replace silence with small, consistent conversations.
On sexual intimacy, the pair struck a measured tone, challenging cultural silence without sensationalism.
“When the other pillars are strengthened, this one finds its rightful place,” Tony explained, suggesting a deeper, integrated approach rather than performance-driven expectations.
Their teaching emphasised mutual desire, communication and intentional rhythm, framed within dignity and partnership.
Tonderai Nyakuhwa, global head of operations at Zimworx, said the initiative reflected their organisation’s holistic philosophy.
“Marriage is a God-given institution... when nurtured, it enhances lasting happiness,” he said, linking stable families to productive communities.
Workplace Wellness lead Pastor Sam Muzivi reinforced the long-term vision:
“This is not an event — it is a beginning.”
The interactive format, punctuated by questions such as “What helps you to feel heard?” encouraged couples to move from passive listening to active participation.
Attendees were urged to identify “cracks” in their relationships and commit to intentional action over the next 30 days.
For many, the takeaway was clear: strong marriages are not accidental, but deliberately built.
“Marriage does not fail from lack of love; it fails from lack of skills,” Tony said.
“When these pillars are aligned, marriage becomes intentional, not accidental.”
Alisa emphasised consistency over perfection.
Excellence in marriage is not perfection; it is consistency.
Emotional safety allows vulnerability. Financial honesty removes fear.
Spiritual unity strengthens direction. And in the private space of marriage, intimacy becomes a language of trust, respect and shared desire.
You build this one conversation at a time,” she said.
The question-and-answer segment highlighted sexual intimacy as a major source of conflict, with couples encouraged to engage in open dialogue across all aspects of their lives.
The conference is part of a wider African tour targeting couples, singles, church leaders and corporate communities across Zimbabwe and beyond.
Zimworx, in partnership with Young Couples Hub, has lined up a series of events, including couples’ sessions at Zimbali Gardens, singles sessions starting today and ending on Wednesday at FunZone and a dinner for American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) members on March 26.
A clinic for church leaders, pastors and chaplains will follow on March 27, before a public couples’ picnic expected to draw about 150 participants.
Regional sessions in Zambia and Victoria Falls will run from March 30 to 31.