MOYO CLERICS URGE MARRIED COUPLES TO REDUCE PHONE USAGE
A man in a vehicle glued to his phone (internet photo)
By Araba Kalsum
Moyo
Clerics in Moyo Vicariate have raised concern over the negative impact of mobile phones on marriage and family life, despite acknowledging their importance as communication tools in the modern era.
Fr. Andrew Werunga, chaplain of the Sacred Heart Sisters of Jesus in Moyo, said excessive and inappropriate use of mobile phones has contributed to infidelity, poor communication and separation among couples.
“Phones are important and potentially useful in enhancing communication and the beauty of marriage. But on the flip side, phones can also be destructive. They are becoming instruments of separation and are breaking marriages,” Werunga warned.
He added that mobile phones have created opportunities for people to communicate more with those outside their families than with their spouses.
“With phones, there is a lot of cheating, and they have led to broken communication. There is more communication outside than inside the institution of the family and marriage. People spend much time communicating with others even when they are physically together, and this is contributing to the breakdown of many marriages,” he said.
Bayoa Grace Odendi, a Christian, also expressed concern that mobile phone use has created mistrust and confusion between couples. “Phones affect marriages because today people in courtship and relationships communicate through phones. Even married men and women may communicate with friends in ways that create suspicion,” Bayoa said.
She noted that secrecy around phone use can further increase mistrust between couples. “Some people save contacts using names such as ‘my love’ or ‘DJ’, which can cause confusion in marriages. A married person may also switch off their phone when they are away from home, creating suspicion and mistrust. These things can eventually contribute to the breakdown of marriages,” she said.
While mobile phones provide entertainment and make communication easier, couples are being encouraged to recognise their potential negative effects on relationships and family life.
Experts and religious leaders encourage couples to create healthy boundaries around phone use, spend more quality time together and prioritise face-to-face communication.
Reducing unnecessary screen time and being open with one another about phone use can also help strengthen trust and communication within families.
As technology becomes increasingly central to everyday life, couples are being urged to use mobile phones as tools that strengthen, rather than undermine, their marriages and families.
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