One of these days I was gallivanting around town and I met a group of women wearing similar T-shirts and zitenje. They looked beautiful in their ‘uniform’. My curiosity could not resist asking a few questions. Here is how our conversation flowed:
Edith: Who are you?
Lady 1: We are members of XXX WhatsApp group.
Edith: So, what’s the purpose of the group?
Lady 1: We mainly just share ‘gists’ and chat. Kucheza basi. But we also support each other in times of sickness and funerals.
Edith: Where do you get the funds to support each other if the aim of the group is just chatting?
Lady 2: We contribute every month and our treasurer keeps the money.
Edith: Oh, so you use the money to give loans to each other with a small interest?
Lady 2: No, our treasurer just keeps the money waiting for the time when we will need it.
Edith: Oh, I see.
As I left the ladies chatting, I couldn’t help, but wonder why a group of over 500 women would just get together and discuss nothing, but gossip and macheza. No sharing business ideas, no real focus, but just waiting for the time when one will get sick or lose a relative. I think people are underutilising these groups. There is more we can do instead of just wearing uniforms and support each other during funerals and visiting the sick.
Also, some of these WhatsApp groups are a nursery for sordid love affairs. I don’t know about you, but I have noticed that in these WhatsApp groups, people tend to be overexcited with a little attention. I know a few members who literally check out members in the group and target a particular individual. They will bombard that person with attention and before you know it, people are talking to each other directly in their inboxes. I know people can find love anywhere, but when one is already in a committed relationship, one needs to respect themselves when interacting in these WhatsApp groups. We have a real life outside of these groups and we can do better.
In these WhatsApp groups, we also have some people who just enjoy being bullies. I mean a group that is meant to serve a particular purpose, but with time, it is turned into a platform of some few ‘‘untouchables’’ using unpalatable language to those they do not like. Mental health is real and I believe those who run these groups should ensure that people are respected at all times.
Then we have rumour peddlers. These people seem to have too much idle time. They will forward whatever they get from whoever and dump them in these WhatsApp groups, half of which are either lies or defamatory claims aimed at tarnishing other people’s images.
I think as mature people we should be prudent enough to choose where we will spend our time. Having access to WhatsApp groups’ content needs data and data needs money. Let us use our time and money wisely, especially in this economy.
