Byo men outraged by census marriage claim

BULAWAYO men have been outraged by the recently released 2012 population Census statistics which suggest they are more reluctant to marry their partners, compared to other provinces.

The report shows that a staggering 40 percent of marriageable people have never tied the knot in Bulawayo.

The figure is way above the national average of 29 percent.

In a snap survey conducted in the city by Saturday Chronicle, men said the report was stereotyping them, arguing that the marriage trends in the city were like in any other Zimbabwean city.

A local florist, Lovemore Moyo, who sells his wares at the City Hall, said the statistics were misleading.
"I'm happily married with five children and I didn't see any enumerator at my house. It seems someone is out to make people here look ill-behaved," he said.

"This is nonsense! It gives me the feeling that the data was only collected at a beer hall. We have decent men in the city who're willing to take up their responsibilities."

Moyo added that if it were true that Bulawayo men do not marry, he would have been pushed out of business.
"Flowers are bought here by lovers, married and otherwise for days on end," he quipped.

But a number of women thought the figures were a true reflection of the reality on the ground.
"We're left to look after our grandchildren by these men. It's true most of them are highly irresponsible and don't contribute to the upkeep of their children," said Eveline Banda.

She said this was the reason why many women like her do all sorts of self-help projects to bring bread on the table.
"They're irresponsible these men, but I won't just watch and let my nephews starve," she said.

The Chronicle website, Twitter and Facebook accounts were also abuzz with men disputing the figures, while women said the figure were a concrete reflection of the city men's non-committal nature.

Wrote Isikhukhukazi: "I think the report is very correct. I once stayed in Matabeleland South, could not find a partner, then Bulawayo and nothing came out. In Bulawayo, I found someone, he turned up to be already loaded with his girlfriends so (I) could not stay with him.

"The guy had no time to apologise, it was a spider (sic). I found someone when I left for another city where I got married at once.
"Now that this has the support of statistics, I now understand."

Blessed Man said: "Please leave us in Bulawayo. You want to take all ladies, you people. It's not on for me. Let everyone stay wherever they are.

"So where do you want them to go, to your place? Coz we know that Harare men don't respect our sisters, so we don't want with them."