In a stern address to the community, Farida Mgomi, the District Commissioner of Ileje in Tanzania, has issued a compelling plea to older women, urging them to refrain from engaging in romantic relationships with younger men. Speaking passionately in a local village, Commissioner Mgomi emphasized the detrimental impact such relationships have on the nation’s youth, urging women over 20 years of age to desist from romantic liaisons with men under the age of 20.
Commissioner Mgomi condemned these relationships as contrary to African traditions and societal norms. She voiced her concerns about mature women, some in their 40s and 50s, pursuing romantic relationships with young men aged 20 to 30, often even marrying their own children’s peers. Expressing her dismay, she questioned the morality of such actions, challenging the women involved, “Are we mothers to be engaging in such behavior? Shouldn’t we be the nurturers?”
She vehemently criticized the notion of older women taking advantage of young men, reprimanding, “Mothers, you are in your 40s, yet you involve yourself with an 18-year-old, claiming to nurture him? Young men, focus on work; abstain from relationships with older women. They are your parents; respect them. A 20-year-old should not be involved romantically with a 50-year-old woman; that’s your mother. Stop!”
Commissioner Mgomi expressed her resolve to put an end to such relationships within her district, firmly stating that such behavior would not be tolerated. She underscored the abnormality of these relationships, urging the community to recognize the seriousness of the issue. “We have lost our way. This is not ordinary. Do not normalize the abnormal. It is not ordinary for a mother to be romantically involved with a young child,” she asserted firmly.
Her words resonated deeply within the community, sparking discussions about societal values and the importance of upholding traditional norms. Commissioner Mgomi’s impassioned plea serves as a rallying cry, calling for a return to the values that define their cultural identity and shape the future of their youth.
By Say