editor’s note

I was privileged to be invited to a symposium for one of the private universities in Blantyre. I take every event as an opportunity for discoveries and learning and this forum provided some insights I shall forever cherish and utilise. It was a glamorous event where almost everyone dressed to kill. Of course, the students dressed to dazzle prospective employers and aim to make lasting impressions. The speeches and presentations were amazing, I must add, with evident hours, days and even months of preparation.

Now, as I attentively absorbed the goings on, one speech in particular got to the nerve of my attention as my ears flapped with excitement. Here was a chief executive officer of some prestigious institution commending students and lecturers as well as the university for offering courses he dubbed relevant to revamping our economy. He rambled on about the contributions such private institutions were making in complementing government’s efforts and alleviating illiteracy. His knowledge of the economy and lack of systems to resuscitate it was impressive, as was his association of some of the courses to the same. The advice to relevant stakeholders was educational as it was inspiring.

Now, for a man well versed in his subject, he pushed me to the edge of my seat when he begun lambasting the sort of dressing exhibited by both genders in their upcoming careers. His observation was first to the men with tendencies to expose boxers on the premise of making fashion statements. As he sent the audience into stitches, he wondered why anybody would want to expose the undergarment by deliberately wearing a larger than size bottom that render movements quite problematic. He deplored such tendencies as out of the question in the career and work environment where decency, recognitions and considerations are synonymous.

Moving on to the female folk, the CEO did not mince words that he was tired of his body responding to bodily exposures by some women whose half or entire bosoms are first to greet him either at interviews or on the job. He bluntly said: “I am human and my body reacts when I see female flesh. It is not body parts I want to see in the course of my duty. These are meant to be well hidden and out of site. For the marketers, it would be your product I should be interested in, not you. It’s the product on sell, not the woman or her assets. It is easy to forget your name when shown body parts because my concentration would be divided. Cover up.” He advised on the need to be presentable by not showing underwear (kukhwefula) or cleavage (kuflasha) to warrant the name fashionistas.

I could not agree more with Mr. CEO. Enough of the cleavages or kukhwefula. Speaking from the female point of view in particular, iiiii, some of those boob shows have gone out of hand, with the breasts themselves screaming out in protest sometimes as they beg to either be let loose and bare or properly covered. And most women know no weather, occasion or the extent of baring. You will find cleavages at funerals, churches, schools, workplace and political parties. Evidently, purposes for the same vary. My observation, they are indeed a distraction. Without standing in anybody’s way regarding the choice of dressing, respect those bodies and the modesty of a woman.