Too Young, Too Fast, Too Public: Why the Nyathi Family Deserves Empathy
By Oudney Patsika | Business Growth Consultant & Editor-in-Chief
It is easy to judge the drama. It is easy to laugh at the leaked audios or critique the "Zero Mileage" car purchases. But before we cast the first stone at the Nyathi Family, we must confront a stark reality: Gilbert Nyamanhindi is just 21. Joyce Manyara is just 20.
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| They are navigating the transition from a shack to stardom while still figuring out who they are. |
They are children navigating an adult world with adult money and adult pressures. They are going through "Poverty to Prosperity Shock." The sudden influx of wealth and fame is a lot for anyone to handle—let alone two young people still figuring out life, marriage, and themselves. Even the critics are beginning to realize that this pile-on has gone too far.
21 and 20: Still Figuring It Out
Think back to when you were 20 or 21. Most of us were messy. We were making mistakes, dating the wrong people, spending money foolishly, and trying to find our identity. We were allowed to fail in private.
The Nyathis do not have that luxury. Their "growing pains"—from humility to pride, from confusion to clarity—are broadcast to millions. Every misstep is content; every argument is a headline.
Psychologically, the prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for decision-making and impulse control—doesn't fully develop until 25. Gilbert and Joyce are literally still developing. To expect the emotional wisdom of a 40-year-old from a 21-year-old simply because they are famous is unfair.
Poverty to Prosperity Shock
The years experienced in poverty have a massive bearing on their current growth and mistakes.
Going from selling ice in a shack to earning US$25,000 a month is a traumatic shift. It is a "shock" to the system. When you have never had anything, and suddenly you have everything, you make mistakes.
You buy the big car to prove you've "made it." You overcompensate. You become defensive. This isn't malice; it's a reaction to a life that flipped upside down overnight.
When Mai Nyathi was heard saying "life was better in the shack," it wasn't ungratefulness; it was a cry of confusion. In the shack, life was simple. Now, life is complex, filled with "enemies" and expectations. That nostalgia for poverty is actually a nostalgia for peace.
Navigating Marriage in a Fishbowl
Apart from maneuvering the poverty-to-prosperity shock, they are also maneuvering a very young marriage.
Marriage is difficult even for mature adults. For two people barely out of their teens, who are also business partners, parents to three children, and public figures, the pressure is unimaginable.
They are trying to figure out how to be a husband and a wife while the whole world watches. The "leaked audios" about property sharing likely reflect the impulsive, emotional venting of a young person overwhelmed by a fight, not necessarily a calculated legal move.
At 20 and 21, you are highly susceptible to outside voices. Friends, family, and "fans" all have opinions. Navigating these influences without turning against each other takes maturity that usually comes with age. They are learning this lesson the hard way, in public.
Even the Critics Are Pausing
When influential voices start apologizing, we know the pressure has crossed a line.
In a moment of profound realization, socialite Royal Mint issued a sincere apology for a previous post that inadvertently fueled the attacks on Gilbert Nyathi. The statement is a sobering reminder of the reality on the ground:
"I want to sincerely apologize... It was never my intention to trigger people into digging up or sharing evidence... I now realize that the way it was posted caused more harm than good."
"We are dealing with a very young and immature boy who rushed into adulthood and family responsibilities... The weight of public pressure, judgment, and constant attacks can push someone into doing something irreversible."
Royal Mint accurately identified the danger: "Presha yatirikumupa Nyathi wacho ichapedzisira yamuitisa zvekushaya" (The pressure we are putting on him will end up destroying him).
This admission highlights that Gilbert isn't a villain; he is a young man overwhelmed by life. As Royal Mint noted, "He needs professional help," not a public execution.
The Verdict: Empathy Over Judgment
As Royal Mint wisely put it: "Accountability is important, but so is humanity." Let’s stop the pile-on and handle this with maturity.
Instead of cheering for their downfall, let us look at them with the empathy reserved for our own younger selves. They are maneuvering poverty, prosperity, and marriage all at once. Let us give them the grace to grow before words turn into tragedy.
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