Online Reporter
George Maponga in Chiredzi
IT was a day of joy and celebration at the Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa Children’s Home in Chiredzi as the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, hosted a memorable Christmas party for the boys at the facility.
The festive event on Friday highlighted the fruits of the First Lady’s unwavering love and kindness, with all food for the celebrations being produced at the home, thanks to various self-reliance projects initiated under her guidance.
The children’s home, under the patronage of Dr Mnangagwa, has become a model of sustainability.
Food such as vegetables, pork, beef, chicken, mealie-meal, tomatoes and onions used to prepare the sumptuous Christmas dishes came from the home’s own projects.
These include cattle rearing, piggery, goat rearing and a thriving irrigated garden where vegetables, tomatoes, onions and maize are grown.
The party was a fun-filled occasion, marked by music and dancing, as the children showcased their talents and celebrated a transformative year made possible by the First Lady’s dedication to their welfare.
Representatives from six local authorities — Redcliff, Kwekwe, Mutare, Masvingo, Gweru and Kadoma — along with other members of the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ), joined the celebration to show their support.
UCAZ president and Harare mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume praised Dr Mnangagwa for her commitment to uplifting the children.
“I am happy with the good work which the First Lady is doing here at the Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa Children’s Home because a culture that is called “work and learn” is being inculcated in children,” he said.
“The children who are here are not only pursuing their academic studies, but are also being taught to use their own hands and all this is thanks to the First Lady.
“This is not politics that I am talking about, but real things that are positively impacting on the lives of children who were on the streets.
“The maize, which produced the mealie meal that is eaten here is produced by these children, so is the beef, chicken, vegetables, pork and goat meat, and this must be applauded.”
Mayor Mafume said the First Lady deserved commendation for pushing UCAZ members to support a worthy cause.
“Some of these boys who stay here were recently in Russia for some competitions and they brought a trophy back home and all this is thanks to the First Lady.”
He also asked all boys who brought back the trophy from Russia to stand up for the crowd to appreciate their achievement.
Cllr Mafume hailed the First Lady for turning the home into a centre for both production and learning, shielding the children from the dangers of drug and substance abuse.
Mvurwi Town Council chairperson Councillor Tonderai Samhu hailed the First Lady for continuing to be exemplary to young people and the majority of Zimbabweans by continuing to advance her education, as evidenced by her recent conferment with a doctoral degree.
Cllr Samhu said the country should draw inspiration from Dr Mnangagwa.
Acting superintendent at the home Ms Emily Willes expressed gratitude for the First Lady’s efforts in restoring hope and opportunities for the children.
She said apart from producing all the food for the Christmas party, some of the boys were also excelling academically.
“Some of our children here attend the best schools such as Gutu, Mutendi, Zimuto and St Antony’s.
“We have one of our boys here, Joshua Emmanuel, who scored 4 As and 8 Bs at Ordinary Level last year and is now doing Form Five. Others are very good at sporting activities such as football and we thank the First Lady for the opportunity to showcase their talents,” said Ms Willes.
She said all the boys at the home had turned over a new leaf in their lives and totally abandoned drugs and substances abuse, thanks to the mother of the nation.
Ms Willes added that others had received vocational training at the Mushagashe Vocational Training Centre, equipping them with skills that have led to employment in local authorities under UCAZ.
Redcliff town clerk Mr Gilson Chakauya said the local authority had bought children at the home Christmas clothes in support of the good work being done by the First Lady.
The crowd was left spellbound at the party as some of the children took to the floor to showcase their dancing skills.
One of the boys, Brian Ndlovu of Bulawayo, paid glowing tribute to the First Lady.
“I want to thank the First Lady because we are now living lives like other normal children though we were staying in the streets.
“I have now been to Russia, Victoria Falls and Great Zimbabwe because of our mother, Dr Mnangagwa,” he said.
Another child at the home, Tinotenda Makuyaya, said he was now able to rear goats, chickens and pigs.
“Every time the First Lady comes here, we go to the garden where she teaches us to grow different vegetables and most of us here are now very good at that but when we came here, we knew virtually nothing and we could not use our own hands to do something meaningful.”
Panashe Mureyi said his life has completely changed.
“When I came here, I was a very young boy but now I am grown up and I am being equipped with various skills and I will be able to use my own hands to survive,
“I am also being academically mentored,” said Panashe.
To cap off a memorable day, the boys received new clothes and groceries for a Christmas to remember from the mother of the nation.
