A Bulawayo woman has embarked on an ambitious project dedicated to ensuring that girls under her care abstain from sex before marriage.
Patricia Tshabalala, the director of Vulindlela Orphanage Care Centre, is the brains behind the initiative, which was prominently showcased during the recent King Mzilikazi day commemorations.
Tshabalala, who has 37 virgins, known as amatshitshi, at her centre located in Mpopoma suburb, said the young women were the pride of the Ndebele nation.
The girls, dressed in traditional gear, participated in the King Mzilikazi festivities, chanting the slogan “Suka mfana” (get away, you boys) to demonstrate their commitment to avoiding contact that could spoil their virginity, a display that prompted standing ovations from the audience.
“I started this programme in 2019 in Mpopoma with 15 virgins,” Tshabalala told Southern Eye.
“Some have grown up and left the orphanage centre, some are married and have no problems in their marriages in terms of diseases or how to run their marriages.”
She added: “I have 37 of them at the moment.
“We are on a recruitment drive because virginity is the pride of the Ndebele nation.
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“Bulawayo is the capital city of the Ndebele king and we want to set an example.”
She revealed that she was inspired to start the project after witnessing young women in South Africa dying of HIV-related illnesses after becoming sexually active at a tender age.
“I have dedicated all my life to this project,” she said, adding that girls undergo thorough tests to qualify for the programme and are accepted from as young as five years old.
Tshabalala linked her mission to cultural preservation.
“This is about our culture and I am proud about it,” she said.
She emphasised the health benefits, noting that she believes long-term use of family planning pills at a young age can lead to infertility later in life.
The centre also houses seven boys, called amaguqa, who undergo similar testing by male elders.
“I have assisted so many girls to live a healthy life and some parents have visited the centre to pay tribute to what we are doing,” she said.
Her goal is for these children to eventually marry each other or other virgins.
“We want them to get married to their husbands, who are also virgins like them,” she said.
Tshabalala runs the centre through donations from well-wishers.
The recent Mzilikazi commemorations provided a platform for her group to meet with similar groups from across Matabeleland, offering vital lessons on culture and the dangers of HIV and Aids as well as drug abuse.
The two-day event, organised by the Mthwakazi kaMzilikazi Cultural Association, was held under the theme: We Strengthen the Nation Through Culture.
Tshabalala’s initiative follows concerns over students attending wild indoor gatherings, especially during weekends and school breaks, called Vuzu parties.
Community leaders say it is often at such parties where young people are introduced to the world of sex, binge drinking and drugs.
A number of teenagers including learners have been caught at the parties during raids conducted by the police.
