First Lady in unique engagement with street children, cooks for them
AT an occasion that mirrored the strong bond between a mother and her children, renowned philanthropist and empowerment advocate, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday spent time cooking for over 300 children living and working on the streets at her newly launched Life Skills Development Centre in Mbare, Harare which she set up for them so they stay off the streets.
During the interaction, she emphasised the need for the children to earn a dignified living and quit vices like drug abuse and prostitution which had seen a number of girls falling pregnant prematurely.
The First Lady is also the country’s health and child care ambassador who has a passion for the welfare of women, children, the elderly and the disabled, among many other disadvantaged groups.
The centre also affords beneficiaries the opportunity to bath and change clothes as they undertake their various projects that include farming and gardening while staying there.
Amai Mnangagwa provides toiletries for them.
The First Lady was joined by women from the community in preparing the sumptuous, healthy and nutritious dishes comprising chicken roast, beef stew, sugar beans, rice, sadza and dried vegetables in peanut butter.
Fresh vegetables that formed part of the meals were grown in a garden which is being watered by the children who planted them together with the First Lady on the day the centre was officially opened three months ago.
After eating, the children were taught good manners by the First Lady and they cleaned their plates and pots, a sign that they had listened to the teachings.
Amai Mnangagwa identified the place which she has refurbished through working with the city council and relevant Government departments.
This is not the first time the First Lady has launched a project directly for children living on the streets and drug addicts.
A few years ago, she rounded up some street children and committed them to Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa Children’s Home in Chiredzi, where they are pursuing academic studies and being equipped with vocational training skills.
They have since quit drugs and are living comfortably at the home with their foster mothers while going to school.
Some are in boarding schools. At the centre, a nutritional garden and orchard with drip irrigation, a solar-powered borehole with 20 000litre tanks and taps were set up.
The complex is the skills development centre for Harare Metropolitan province, where children from the streets, drug addicts and those around the community are receiving training in various projects, including agriculture.
More projects like carpentry, dressmaking, poultry and sporting activities will be introduced soon while the children will also enrol for short courses at the centre.
Amai Mnangagwa launched a feeding scheme whereby the beneficiaries will have healthy meals everyday as they do their projects.
She also gave them clothes.
In her remarks, the First Lady said issues pertaining to the moulding and raising of children did not have anything to do with politics.
She said it was everyone’s responsibility to see to it that these children are well looked after.
“I have come to share the history of how I started this programme in conjunction with various other departments like the city council because of my zeal to transform the lives of these children. I identified this place but it was dilapidated so we worked hard to refurbish it.
“We do not know where these children came from neither do we know their parents nor their places of birth. However, they are our collectively responsibility now. In programmes like these there is no politics as we are there to put our heads together with the aim of assisting these children.
“Some of them are now living here to safeguard their projects. The vegetables we prepared today, we grew them here,” she said to applause.
“Some among these children are pregnant as they take each other in the streets and one gave birth at this place last month. Those being born need a place to stay and therefore we have work to do.
“We shall have school lessons here where I will be introducing courses. I do not want to hear anyone calling them derogatory names like ‘zvigunduru’. Those I took to Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa Children’s Home are doing exceptionally well in school where others are now prefects. Some passed their Ordinary Level and Advanced Level with flying colours,” the First Lady said.
Dr Mnangagwa implored Zimbabweans to abstain from calling the children derogative names, but instead play a part in assisting them to become better citizens.
“The children here need love from us, they need our love and support. I want you children to choose what you are capable of doing and focus on that project that we are doing here and I will bring more projects. I want you to quit drugs. Please do not sell the clothes that I have brought you. I say no to those who return to be streets and under bridges. No to mutoriro. I want you to make money, but not through begging and stealing. I want you to succeed in life my children,” she said with a broad smile.
Minister of State for Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution Charles Tavengwa thanked the First Lady for her philanthropic work which has captured the imagination of the world.
“We thank you Amai, our First Lady for the great work that you are doing here. We thank you Amai for your commitment and dedication to disadvantaged people in our society which will create a conducive and inclusive environment for these disadvantaged people to coexist with others,” he said.
Equipping vulnerable groups with life skills, Minister Tawengwa said, had a positive impact in the development of the country.
“Your Excellency, let me hasten to mention that equipping this vulnerable group with life skills is a noble idea in our quest as government to leave no one and no place behind as explored in the developmental matrix in the national development strategy 1 as we embrace the mantra of leaving no one and no place behind its noble to target this disadvantaged group of people who have been left to roam on the streets thus the mantra is critical as it addresses this. Your excellency with this event I want to urge you not to grow weary and to bring good, especially your philanthropic works which are known not only in Zimbabwe but throughout the world, that is the world at large,” he said.