Fungisai Denounces Bullying in Schools

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y Fungisai Zvakavapano Mashavave

This reminds me of my first day at Nyazura Mission, when I felt bullied because of my Girls High School Harare accent — nestep yangu yaingonzwika funny — and they nicknamed me Muchaina.

If you remember that picture of us — two girls and one boy — yes, that’s the one.

What actually made Maggie (the other girl in the picture) and me best friends was the physical fight we had on my very first day after arriving in Form 3 as a new student. I felt some of the girls were trying to gang up on me, and I stood my ground.

By the end of that first week, we were both spending our afternoons together digging a 2m x 2m pit as hostel punishment. That experience bonded us deeply, and from then on, we became inseparable.

It’s all part of growing up — we learn to adjust our undesirable behaviours through such childhood experiences. Sadly, children today face the harsh scrutiny of social media, which can make their socialization process even harder.

Both the victim and the perpetrator need counselling. And of course, we should appreciate the child who shows positive emotional intelligence.

I appeal to everyone: treat children as children. Even the one who made a mistake deserves counselling and loving corrective guidance. Through that, she will learn that certain behaviours are unacceptable.

Let love lead — towards a bright future for both of them.