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We have a new show called #AskGiGi

by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe
written by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe

 

Have you ever wanted to get advice but you were too afraid that you would get judged or be ridiculed for even having the issue in the first place?

That’s why we are starting the #AskGiGi webseries because every girl deserves a safe space.

In this digital landscape, minefield, we’re afraid of being screenshot or our messages getting forwarded to other people. Next thing you know your dirty laundry is all over the social media streets and everyone is in your business.

How will #AskGiGi assist us with this?

#AskGiGi is a safe platform for you to share your stories and get realistic advice from Thembi and Buhle. Personal relationships nowadays are so strained that people are scared to trust and be truly vulnerable with one another. This platform allows you to get objective, unbiased and uncompromised advice from two different young women who will give you two viewpoints on the issue.

How will I submit my story anonymously?

Technology is an amazing thing! Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe has a CuriousCat account which allows you to post things anonymously. You don’t even have to create an account, that’s how anonymous it is. You simply click the link and submit your story/question and it will be shared into our CuriousCat inbox.

You can test CuriousCat here: https://curiouscat.me/GirlGrandeurZw?t=1582618123

What if my story is stupid?

There’s no such thing as a stupid story. If a situation has you stressed out and all out of sorts then it’s not stupid. If it’s important to you, it’s important to us and we want to hear it.  The one thing we have noticed is that there is nothing new under the sun. You aren’t the only one going through something and someone else can relate to your story.

The reason why we decided to have this show is so that everyone has a shoulder to lean on and a listening ear. A problem shared is a problem halved. Sometimes a problem can stress you out and you feel trapped because you can’t talk to anyone about it. This leads to loneliness and other mental health issues. We want to start talking about these taboo things and bring them into the light where they can’t haunt us anymore.

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FeaturedNews & Updates

Donating Blood is Also Good for the Donor.

by Faith Panashe Zvorufura
written by Faith Panashe Zvorufura

I vividly remember the first day I donated blood in High School. I had just turned 16 and was slightly above 50kgs. I was so excited, till this day I do not know why I was so happy.

I also passed out on the day because I went to bask in the sun right after. Well it was winter and freezing cold.

However, I have been consistent ever since with my 15th donation due already. Back then I always thought the person that gets my blood benefited the most but recently learnt that donating blood is also good for the donor.

It is helpful for the vital organs, and it reduces risk for chronic diseases such as cancer and stroke.

Here are more reasons on why you should donate blood:

  • Reduce risk of heart attacks and liver ailment.

The risk of heart and liver related problem is caused by the iron overload in the body. Donating blood helps in maintaining the iron level in the body and thus reduce those risk.

  • Lower the risk of cancer

Cancer is the most feared and deadly disease. Blood donation helps in lowering the risk of cancer. By donating blood regularly the iron level in the blood is balanced and the risk of cancer-related to the liver, lungs, and intestine gets lower.

  • New blood cells

Once we donate blood, the body tries to restore the blood loss. This helps in the production of the new blood cells and maintain good health.

  • Reduced risk of hemochromatosis

Hemochromatosis is a disease that occurs due to increase in the absorption of iron by the body. Blood donation helps in reducing iron overload in the body and prevent Hemochromatosis.

  • Maintain Weight

It is recommended to donate blood for those who are overweight. Regularly donating blood helps in weight loss and burn fat up to 650 calories.

  • Helps prevent premature ageing.

While donating blood, you not only lose weight but it also helps in reducing stress. Stress is one of the reasons that triggers premature ageing. Blood donation helps in reducing stress on your mind and body. Also, keeps the skin tight and wrinkle-free.

  • Speeds up healing process

The body tries to adjust to the loss of red blood the cells we donate blood, these adjustments also help in accelerating the wound healing process.

  • Free Medical checkup

Every donor goes through a routine checkup prior to donation. Body temperature is checked along with blood pressure, hemoglobin and pulse. Blood is tested for 13 infectious disease like HIV, West Nile Virus, hepatitis B and C and Syphilis. It gives you a cost free quick look into your health.

  • Live a longer life

The people who involve in the altruistic work have proven to live a longer life. Blood donation is altruistic works so it not only save lives of other but also helps you live longer and healthier.

  • Psychological Upliftment

Beside all the healthy benefits that we obtain by donating blood, we also get the powerful benefit psychologically by helping the one in need.

  • Save lives

Every time we donate one pint of blood it helps save three lives, so if we donate four times in a year we end up saving 12 lives. We don’t have to be a superhero to save someone, a simple act of donating blood can also save lives.

The 14th of June is World Blood Donor Day, it is not too late to save a life.

 

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Fashion & StyleFeatured

Is your natural hair dreading the winter chills? Here’s 3 ways to beat the snag…

by Miriam C. R Mushaikwa
written by Miriam C. R Mushaikwa

The Lockdown is more than a nightmare if you are a naturalista, because not only is natural hair a hustle, but it’s also 100% unmanipulatable at times! I know the struggle because I’m part of it too, and with salons on “forced vacation”, nothing is more depressing than moppy natural hair which is just too brittle to even comb out, let alone shampoo or condition.  Natural hair can be a snub in the back in winter, and it can send shivers down your spine plus breakages if you overlook some simple steps. Yeah, you might end up posting ‘Bad Hair Day’ more often than not if you decide to go all macho this winter. Not only that, your comb might start sending fallout signals too, which might then force you to run straight to the barber in summer. To save you from the bad-hair-day brought about by dreadful winter chills, I’ve jotted down 3 ways to beat the snag this winter…

The Black Hair Experience GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

Get the right brushes

Your eyes might be rolling out, and you might be asking yourself, “Does it really matter?” but here’s my little secret: natural hair needs suitable brushes and combs. Ever wondered why your hair breaks every time you try to use a seamed comb or one with pressed-together tongs? It’s simple…natural hair is wiry, so forcing a thinly-spaced comb might do more harm than good. Please look for combs and brushes that are wide-toothed and seamless. These not only detangle hair ever so gently, but they don’t mess up the roots. A healthy hair bed is essential in guaranteeing perfect growth and rejuvenation in instances when the hair falls out due to strain.

Bag-in a good moisturizer

Now this really is essential to ensure that your hair is always hydrated. A natural crown can be a nightmare if it’s dry, so always moisturise it. Moisturisers differ but what I can safely vouch for is anything water-based. I know the feeling one gets when’ wet’ is mentioned, but believe it or not, natural hair thrives well if it’s a bit damp. Funny right? Well just give it a shot: mix a few natural oils then add some water. Go ahead, spray that hair and plait whilst it is moistened. The next time you remove the plaits, also make sure it’s a bit damp when you detangle it. I can guarantee you one thing: Less Breakage, and More Bulkier Hair (not forgetting the silky natural shine…)

Black Hair GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

Try out a suitable DIY protective style

Self-plaiting isn’t fun, but the Covid-19 period has helped me appreciate the positivity in a bit of hair DIY protective styles. Just because I am plaiting my hair and incorporating the afore-mentioned right hair brushes and moisturisers, I now know my strong hair points and the weak ones. Aaaargh yes Queens, we all have these. There are those spots on your head that cannot take strain when it comes to combing, like edges or even the midi parts. Hair differs, and some ladies are blessed with good hairlines but one thing I have learnt over the past few months is: hair can actually grow faster if you know when to comb, how to twist and when to renew your hairstyle.

So get crafty ladies. And remember: all hairtypes matter but with natural hair, a dose or two of extra love can make the crown bigger!

Type 4 Curly Hair GIF by Shalita Grant - Find & Share on GIPHY

 

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FeaturedNews & Updates

Africa Day: African Woman’s Role in Politics?

by Faith Panashe Zvorufura
written by Faith Panashe Zvorufura

Celebrations on May 25th, crowned as Africa Day, recite the annual commemorations of Africa’s independence, freedom and liberation strife from colonial imperialists.

Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA) continues to remind the African Union that there is still work to be done by way of leading, guiding, defending and coordinating the African Union’s efforts on gender equality.

Women constitute more than half the world’s population, yet their participation in electoral and governance processes where decisions regarding their lives are made and remain peripheral in many countries.

Women and girls have been leading and continue to lead at the front-lines calling for reform, regime change, renewed and lawful democracy in a number of nations within the Greater Horn of Africa. African women’s role in political participation can no longer be minimized to casting votes and mere quota systems.

It must be reiterated that true democracy is effective when women are allowed to fully participate in political activities right from formulating their agenda, to claiming and taking their seat at the table of negotiation and policy-making in view of the lived realities of masses of women and in the interest of achieving gender equality.

Women’s representation in political decision making has been on the rise globally however the increase has been stubbornly slow, barely 1% in 2018 compared with the previous year. In 2018 the number of women ministers worldwide reached an all-time high at 20.7% (812 out of 3922).

In sub-Saharan Africa, the number of women seated in parliament grew in 2018, with a regional average share at 23.7%, according to the just-released 2019 edition of the biennial Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Map of Women in Politics.

Ethiopia saw the largest increase in women’s political representation in the executive branch, from 10% women ministers in 2017 to 47.6% in 2019.

On ministerial positions, the report highlights another striking gain more women in Africa are now in charge of portfolios traditionally held by men than in 2017. There are 30% more women ministers of defense, 52.9% more women ministers of finance, and 13.6% more women ministers of foreign affairs.

Among the top African countries with a high percentage of women in ministerial positions are Rwanda (51.9%), South Africa (48.6%), Ethiopia (47.6%), Seychelles (45.5%), Uganda (36.7%) and Mali (34.4%).

The lowest percentage in Africa was in Morocco (5.6%), which has only one female minister in a cabinet of 18. Other countries with fewer than 10% women ministers include Nigeria (8%), Mauritius (8.7%) and Sudan (9.5%).

Of the 210 parliamentary seats in Zimbabwe, only 26 are held by women

Two main obstacles prevent women from participating fully in political life, according to UN Women. These are:

  • Structural barriers, whereby discriminatory laws and institutions still limit women’s ability to run for office, and
  • Capacity gaps, which occur when women are less likely than men to have the education, contacts and resources needed to become effective leaders.

The number of women in politics is not proportionate to the population of women and as highlighted by the statistics above – reaching a point where women are adequately represented in politics is taking a long time… however, change is change, the rate could be slow but that is way better than no change at all.

 

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FeaturedSkin & Beauty

Herbal Haircare Passed Down Generations

by Karen McBirds
written by Karen McBirds

I have often wondered growing up on a farm with everything organic why black women resorted chemically processed hair and weaves. I guess it was the norm that time to look good hair has to be straight. This is the reason woman of African decent are having trouble with alopecia.

It is often said that with slavery and colonization came a depletion in knowledge of traditional hair maintenance. Thank God kinky hair is now a trend. Here are some new and old favorites passed down generations:

Step 1: African Black Soap: Cleansing Wash

This is a traditional soap from West Africa and it’s main ingredients are shea butter, honey and plant ash. It is commonly made into a bar soap however I have mastered a DIY technique to keep it in liquid form as a shampoo. Thoroughly cleansing the hair and leaving the honey and Shea butter nutrients locked in my hair.

Step 2: Rhassoul Clay: Clarifying Hair Mask

Moroccan mineral filled gem, Rhassoul clay is a traditional mud wash that can cleanse oil and impurities from hair. The word rhassoul derives from the Arabic word for washing, “Rhassala.” It has an unmatched ability to draw out impurities from the skin and hair and is used for detoxifying, cleansing and reducing dryness. It has a reddish brown color and has been used for soothing scalp ailments such as dandruff and psoriasis.

BENEFITS

  • Rhassoul clay is the moisturizer and softener.
  • It reduces dryness in the hair while also removing toxins and product buildup.
  • It improve hair’s elasticity and unblocks your scalp’s pores.
  • It reduces flakiness and aids in detangling and although it cleans like bentonite clay but unlike the detoxifying clay, it leaves your hair soft and moisturized.


    Step 3: Locking in moisture!
    Shea Butter, Avocado Butter, Cocoa Butter, Ghee Butter

    These are pretty common knowledge. The one thing that is consistent across the continent is the use of oil to help maintain hair moisture. This is perhaps the most important step in maintaining growth and softness do try to include an oil/butter treatment as opposed to cholesterol treatments. Ethiopian communities use ghee butter which is a type of clarified butter. The butter is used to help seal in moisture and strengthen hair. I have realised in my Hair care routine to apply the butter while the hair is still wet wear a plastic cap and voila you have an oil treatment 🙂 Thank me later.

    Step 4: Marula oil : Scalp Moisture

    This is a traditional oil from Mozambique and South Africa. I have found this to be gem especially mixed with hemp oil it becomes a magical hair growth oil. Applying only on the scalp 3 times a week.

    Step 5: Styling : African threading

    The final step especially to straighten hair without the use of heat. African threading or Braiding the hair down gets the job done. This technique was used traditionally in West and Central Africa to wrap and protect hair as well as create intricate styles. Today, it is used in a similar manner and in addition is a way to stretch hair with no heat.

    As we commemorate our African heritage, let’s take a look at these old African health and beauty tips for healthy hair. Are there any other that you know of? Please share
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Fashion & StyleFeatured

Add kink to your nightwear collection…Here’s how

by Miriam C. R Mushaikwa
written by Miriam C. R Mushaikwa

Funny how I never – in a thousand years – dreamed of spending 24/7 indoors, slouching on the couch and munching away on some popcorn, whilst constantly refreshing my screen for the latest Netflix movies. Life is unpredictable, and some twists just elevate one’s state from zero to hundred…and here I’m simply referring to being stuck at home!

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Most of us are finding ourselves wearing sleepwear more often than not, and we have all of a sudden forgotten to add some kinky finesse to our night-turned-day clothes. That sexy, girly-girl feeling is what we all crave for, so don’t lose yourself in that boring nightie. Spice it up a little, and get shopping online for these three essential looks that you can get away with during this Covid-19 lockdown:

1. The Onesie
If you’re that chicky, yet laid back girl who simply hates having to button up the whole shirt, the onesie is our thing so, cheers to us! Buying a onesie is the way to go, as it saves you the hustle of putting on too many pieces. Plus since winter is staring blankly into our faces now, a warm and colourful cartoon themed or polka-dotted onesie is a must-have. So go over to a departmental store online, add it to your cart, and have it delivered at your doorstep!

via GIPHY

2. A fluffy gown
Who doesn’t love fur honestly? We all do, especially if the fur is comfy enough to be worn late afternoon, while you lackadaisically flip through a novel. A fluffy gown is ideal, because not only is it cosy, but it can also up your ratings on your IG #stayhome #staysafe uploads. Who said staying indoors, in a nightgown should be boring? Plus, soon when life isn’t all stay-home-all-day, you won’t have time to show that fluffy gown off. Go grab it, have it and remember to flaunt it!

via GIPHY

3. Get Lacey…
Just to keep that love spark burning, there’s nothing more alluring than a lace nightie that is comfortable to rock in the living room as you eat dinner with your better half. Instead of wearing that oversized T-Shirt that you inherited from your brother, order something that says, “Yes I’m stuck indoors, but I’m still a tigress underneath my skin.”

via GIPHY

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FeaturedSkin & Beauty

Skincare Is NOT Vanity

by Mazvita Chimbganda-Gundu
written by Mazvita Chimbganda-Gundu

I was just 12 years old and my whole life had just changed without me even knowing it. His name was Dr Patel, he wouldn’t be the last dermatologist/skin specialist to transform my skin and fuel my passion for skincare. 

Hello, my name is Mazvita and l am utterly obsessed with skincare. 

What does “SELF-CARE” mean to you? pause for a second and really think about it. . . .

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You know how that fresh manicure makes you feel or the joy deep in your stomach after a gym or workout session? Remember how it was the first time you took a whiff of that heavenly new fragrance or the nostalgia you felt having lunch with old friends and the complete peace after meditating or praying. These are all acts of self-care because being able to balance the internal and the external aspects of who you really are at your core, fosters a strength that can make the impossible possible. 

Skincare is definitely an important part of self-care and does not even come close to being associated with plain vanity in my humble opinion. Caring for our skin is not just about it making us look good physically but it’s also our body’s largest organ therefore in essence quite essential to do so. Our skin as strong as it is, it’s also vulnerable, quite the paradox, right? So it needs a lot of love, care and protection because it deserves that and more.

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Insecurity in any form stunts your growth in more ways than one, a lesson I should have learnt early in life. Prior to developing allergies in my pre-teen years, skincare to me was my mother’s mandatory weekly Dettol baths with a true African pumice stone plus loads of Vaseline afterwards. Then came the terrific teen years where after several visits to a dermatologist I started paying close attention to my skin a lot more as well as having an awareness of skincare ingredients. I never really had acne as a teenager so that was never a true concern at the time so I focused on maintaining clear and even skin which involved drinking a lot of water, using fresh aloe vera masks, mealie meal & sugar water masks, lemon juice treatments and a few other family secrets (stay tuned, wink wink!). 

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Protex Soap and Ponds Vanishing Cream opened up the world to my first encounter to the very matte “no makeup-makeup look” of that era (worth recreating right?). I also remember begging my mother to buy Bio Oil when I was about 16 because I felt very insecure and unsure of myself due to stretch marks, the myths in the society I grew up in regarding stretch marks made it even worse and unbearable as a young girl going through puberty. Fast forward to 2011ish, I was a 20 something year old woman with extreme acne and dark spots and it felt like I was back to being the young 12 year old girl with a skin disorder. “They are looking at my skin, I look horrible” ran through my mind all the time so l learnt to avoid socialising unnecessarily, I barely had friends, I felt very unattractive and just hopeless.

via GIPHY

The second time in my life l consulted a dermatologist l was in my late 20s and this time l had extensive hormonal acne due to a change in the type of birth control l used. It definitely was a long and painful journey to healthy skin, which turned out to be the final nod I needed to share my experiences, start my own skincare brand and a career as an aesthetic nurse which is a whole other story in itself. All in all, knowing what l know now it’s all a bit clearer why all the ingredients, techniques and products in the skincare realm work or sometimes do not work at all and l want to share that with you all. 

In this section of the blog, every month going forward we will get right down to the bare skin basics all the way up to celebrity as well as dermatology secrets and how we can access that fountain of youth and glow on a smart budget with a few DIYs for good measure. Of course genetics and nature play a huge part in the overall look as well as health of our skin but trust me Beauties, even mother nature appreciates a bit of a hand with “perfection”.

The next post will be the beginning of a tremendous journey into the science and art of becoming our own skin specialists. If you have questions or topics you would like covered please fill in this contact form or send me a DM on my Instagram page BeautyParadox_Official where l post new content everyday.

Take care beauties and God bless.

Mazvita xX 

 

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FeaturedHealth & Fitness

My Cervical Cancer Screening Experience

by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe
written by Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe

In early 2014 I was lucky to be part of a group of female journalists from all over Africa invited to witness and experience the work done at New Start Centers across Zimbabwe on cervical cancer screening. Cervical cancer has been named one of the most common killers among women today and yet it is also one of the most curable if detected early.

Zimbabwe embarked on a series of screening campaigns which unfortunately has been overwhelming for health practitioners who have to work with limited resources and citizens who have to be on a waiting list for weeks and at times months to be called for a screening procedure.

So for me it was delighting to be able to bypass the waiting list and be able to undergo this life saving procedure so as to encourage other ladies to get it done as well. First I went for an HIV test after which I went into a small room with a large TV monitor and a few computers and complicated looking machines. A lady in white who was behind the computer asked me to remove my trousers and to lie facing upwards on the bed with my legs apart.

I had heard all sorts of rumours about how your uterus is sucked out of you and put on a table and then examined. I was expecting an unpleasant feeling while lying there with my legs apart. I could even hear the lady grab some metal sounding tools from a bucket with a clear liquid in it. As I tilted my head slightly to the side to see what it was I spotted a curved medium sized metal object, half the palm of my hand in width and about 15-20 centimeters long. I was still wondering where she planned to put that thing when I felt a cold movement in my vagina and like something making its way in. It felt like I was being opened up and some air was rushing into my privates. Later the monitor was alive with pictures of the inner lining of my uterus in full view on the screen. It was dark pinkish in colourand shiny. The lady asked me to compare what I was seeing on the monitor to what was on pictures around the examination room to get my result. I told her it looked like there were no signs of cancer cells and she agreed. I asked her why then the skin looked so dark almost red and she said it is because I had had a baby before and was on contraceptives and that is how the womb would react to such experiences.

For the next couple of hours, I kept trying to squeeze my legs together because it still felt like the metal object was still up there somewhere. I was however glad that at least for the next 12 months had been given the nod of good health.

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FeaturedNews & Updates

Up Close With Breast Cancer Survivor Tendayi Gwata

by Faith Panashe Zvorufura
written by Faith Panashe Zvorufura

October is breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women, impacting 2.1 million women each year, and also causes the greatest number of cancer-related deaths among women. In 2018, it is estimated that 627,000 women died from breast cancer that is approximately 15% of all cancer deaths among women.

Girl Grandeur Zimbabwe caught up with Tendayi Gwata who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and below are the excerpts of the conversation.

  • Tell Us About Yourself. Who is Tendayi Gwata?

I am a mother of an amazing 4 year old boy, an older sister to 3 siblings, a daughter and good friend. 

  • What does Tendayi do?

I am a marketing consultant working in the digital media space as well as the political space (outside of Zimbabwe). I spent part of last year as a Campaign Manager for party elections in Ghana. I have also started sewing and will soon start selling headwraps and scarves that work for everyone but in particular chemo patients and people with natural hair.

  • When were you diagnosed with breast cancer?

I was diagnosed in July of this year. It was very unexpected and I can say blindsided me.

  • How did you feel when you first received the news?

I was terrified. I kept thinking about my son and what will happen to him. It felt like being given a death sentence at the time. Although now I realise there is a lot of hope and a huge chance that I will survive. I would say the most difficult time for me so far was the time between my diagnosis and receiving a treatment plan, which was about 3 weeks. In that time I felt very lost, unsure of the future and very very afraid.

  • Tell me about your treatment process.

The oncologist gave me what is called a Treatment Plan which maps out my treatment.  I would say that this was the first time since the diagnosis that I began tpo feel positive about y condition. My treatment plan consists of 8 cycles of chemo, surgery followed by radiation.

Can you please enlighten us on how it’s still affecting you?

I am currently in the chemo stage and it hasn’t been easy. The side effects range from unbearable bone pain to hair loss to hardening veins. What makes it most challenging is that even though I am aware of the side effects to expect, I don’t which I will get and when, so I am in a constant state of expectation. I struggle with sleep, enjoying the taste of food (the chemo has had a huge impact on how things taste). I also find I get tired very quickly and can usually manage a couple of hours of activity a day then I am completely exhausted.

  • What has changed in your life?

Living with a life threatening illness has changed my perspective about everything. I am more appreciative of the small things, waking up, being able to walk around and generally just being alive.

I consider myself a very social person but due to my lowered immunity I am no longer able to be around crowds, I have to be very careful about what and where I eat. This has meant that I now stay at home a whole lot more than I have ever done.

  • Please take us through the check-up process, what really happens?

I havent really had a specific check up process as yet. For now my check ups happen at the next chemo. It usually involves a blood test to check my white cell counts and liver function to make sure that they havent been seriously affected. I have also had to see a cardiologist after my 4th chemo cycle to check my heart function. All these checks are necessary as the chemo impacts these areas, and to be able to proceed to more chemo, there is a need to confirm that all is ok.

  • What message would you like to provide women in the community?

To all the women who have been diagnosed and are going through this I would like to say that I wish you well. I hope that you have a strong support system to help you geth through this journey. That nutrition and hydration are my secret weapons to remaining on top the treatment and side effects.

To those who don’t have breast cancer, please check yourself regulary and go for your annual mammogram. Catching it early means you have a higher chance of survival, and are less likely to have such an aggressive treatment plan.

I post quite regularly on my twitter account @tendayigwata where I share my journey and things that I am learning along the way. Such has where to find information about the drugs and how you can figure out at what point will your immunity will be at it lowest between chemo cycles.

Women are encouraged to regularly get checked for breast cancer. Early detection saves lives.

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FeaturedOpinion

Our Trash Needs Better Management

by Thembi Terry
written by Thembi Terry

Have you ever seen how people go through your trash?

Well, they do.

Due to poor service delivery in some places in Zimbabwe, garbage can lie unattended to for days if not weeks. This leads to dogs ripping through the trash which litters the street and the community and ultimately the country as a whole. Some people have resorted to placing heavy rocks to make sure that the bin doesn’t topple over but that is not full-proof. Here in Harare residents are erecting these iron structures outside their gates where they place their trash far from the reach of the canines and felines.

Even when your trash is collected on time, there are people at the dump sites that make a living out of scrounging through your trash. As unhygienic as that sounds, it’s happening. During my time at Miss Earth Zimbabwe, I visited the dumpsite with one of the pageant’s contestants. I took a couple of pictures but security made me delete them. You need high level clearance to take pictures there. We met people of all ages that scrounge through the garbage for all sorts of useful junk. This one guy makes a living from picking up plastic at the dumpsite and turning it into plastic animal statues.

Now you’re thinking of all the gross things that you threw away.

For women it’s different, we need to consider the disposal of our sanitary wear.

When I was in primary school, we had an incenarator. In Grade 5, you’d move to a new set of toilets that had incenarators. They taught us how to effectively and discreetly dispose of soiled sanitary wear. The incenarator is like a furnace that would burn your sanitary wear never to pop up again. It was a great way of getting rid of used pads. Nowadays I don’t see toilets that have incenarators. How are young girls disposing of their used sanitary wear?

Most public toilets have a bin specifically for sanitary wear. Some will even go as far as to provide the little plastic bags for you to wrap your pads in before placing them in the bin. But does that mean for me to get rid of my pads I must travel all the way into town to throw them away securely? Surely there must be another way that doesn’t end up with my dirty pads strewn all across the street. Note that dogs are carnivores, they smell blood and assume that its meat.

What must happen now?

Well, the issues that need to be addressed lie in the hands of the country’s policy makers. We need more efficient service delivery to start. Trash must be collected in a timely fashion. We need new ways of handling the trash crisis. Yes, it’s a crisis. Last timeI checked, the landfill where all the trash goes is almost full. We need to start teaching people to recycle. This starts with separation at source, the source being the home. Each home must start to sort its trash according to glass, paper and biodegradable. The first two can be recycled whereas the last will go back into the earth without harming it. Once the trash is sorted, at least even the scroungers will pick up the trash that’s useful to them without having to sort through all of it. The unemployment rate needs to be addressed to deter people from resorting to these unhygienic income generating activities.

While conducting research on this topic, respondents stated how some of them wash the used pads before disposing of them, some girls have resorted to reusable pads instead of disposable ones. Reusable pads are cost efficient and washable for reuse. They are made of fabric instead of plastic. Some girls use menstruation cups and the ones that use tampons and disposable pads often burn them in the yard but pointed out that pads are hard to completely burn and get rid of.

What are some of the ways that women can dispose of used sanitary wear?

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