FROM CHINAMWALI TO CHILANGIZO:

such as phada (girls' game ofjumping a rope) or netball, for the pad may fall down and
people can see it, zochititsa manyazi! (it is shameful!).
The instructress indicated that the menses linen must be dried well and kept away in a
plastic bag after every menses, possibly under her stored clothes. As no one should see
them, they must be kept out of sight. The linen must be thrown away after they have
been used for a long time.
Body anatomy. The pastor's wife took time to explain that since she has now matured,
she will experience significant changes in the growth of her body as well. Her breasts
would grow, her skin and her face would become smooth such that boys would now
admire her and make advances to her. She warned her to watch out and never to have
sex with a boy as it was dangerous. If she has sex she would become pregnant. That
would also be dangerous for she is too young. The baby would be growing inside her
while she was small which would cause death. The problem is that in addition to preg­
nancy, she would contract HN/AIDS, for the boys she may be sleeping with might
have been sleeping with other girls. So 'osanyengedwa ndi anyamata' (do not be lured
by boys'). She was warned to be careful, not to have sex, and not to rush into mother­
hood.
Decency in dress. Amayi busa instructed the girl to wear clothes decently (modzileme­
keza). This means not to wear short skirts and bend while sweeping the floor in the
presence of men. But she must always put on a piece of cloth on top of her dress and
work the floor while kneeling. Ifshe puts on short dresses, boys will go after her. Once
she gives herself to them, they will begin to touch her breasts and that is very danger­
ous. One instructress asked the pastor's wife to read 1 Timothy 3:9, 'Momwemonso,
akazi adzibveke okha ndi cobvala coyenera, ndi manyazi, ndi cidziletso...' ('I also want
women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety...' 'Mwamva?' ('Do you under­
stand?') She asked.
General cleanliness. The girl was instructed to keep her body and her clothing clean all
the time. She was rebuked that 'many girls do not clean their underwear, instead they
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