HARARE - As much we might want to act macho and pretend that we can go it alone, inside of every individual there is a burning desire to love and have the love reciprocated.
All my life I have assumed that men were just egotistical beings who never get their feelings hurt when a relationship goes bad because they always manage to maintain their cool unlike women who are quick to let their feelings show.
But an article published by the Weekend Post, our sister publication revealed that men just like women sometimes go to the extremes to try to secure love.
The article in question delved into the issue of genital piercing for the sole purposes of sexual pleasure which I find very creepy.
Just writing about how men and women out there in this our land Zimbabwe paying top dollar to pierce that most delicate area sends shivers down my spine.
The men quoted in the article testified to the fact that they went through this process which is not only painful but presents a serious health risk so that they can satisfy their partners in bed.
Seriously!!!
Genital piercing involves piercing ones genital area to enable one to wear jewellery which has an effect of enhancing sexual pleasure.
I thought the issue of body enhancement for sexual pleasure was a reserve for women only but recent reports that some Zimbabwean men have turned to piercings literally blew me away.
We have in the past been bombarded by stories of how women did all sorts of unruly things to their bodies all for the sake of improving their game between the sheets.
Growing up in Mbare we even had young girls especially those of Malawi origin who undertook classes on how to be “good wives” popularly referred to as Chinamwali.
The training programme which was held at a local primary school was always shrouded in mystery and it didn’t take long for us to catch up on what it was all about.
We soon learnt from our friends who attended these classes they were taught how to adorn themselves and how to alter some of their body parts for the pleasure of men.
They were also taught everything a good African woman should do to please their men, but the classes were not entirely limited to bedroom chores as they were also taught how to conduct themselves in a good way in the family setup.
There is no doubt in my mind that the values taught in these places were and are still useful and relevant.
Right there in the ghetto, we would also hear stories about how Mai Nhingi gave her husband mupfuwira (love portion) to prevent him from straying.
I remember wondering — in my young inquisitive mind if there were any Chinamwali classes conducted for boys where they would be trained on how to become good husbands.
But soon enough I became aware that these were issues that concerned women and not men.
However, the tables have turned and men desperate for love have turned to genital piercing which is supposed to improve their game and no doubt help secure their lovers.
The question that however begs answers is can this be the foundation of love or are people putting their health at risk for a myth.
I personally am a firm believer that there is more to a relationship than the physical but then again that is just me and I am no expert on matters of the heart.
I am not only completely bowled over but chaffed indeed that men who appear aloof at times are human after all and have feelings too but unlike women they know how to hide them.
A male colleague even confessed how he cried for days on end when a woman he was madly in love with called the relationship off.