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Tendai Rupapa

Senior Reporter

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday took her breakfast in homes programme to Harare Province and officially launched it at Hupenyu Hutsva Children’s Home, as part of her mission to spread love and ease the plight of the underprivileged.

The First Lady, who is also the country’s health ambassador, works tirelessly to ensure that the nutritional and health requirements of citizens, especially the vulnerable, are met.

Early morning, a hands-on person, Amai Mnangagwa put on an apron and effortlessly prepared the breakfast which she served the 96 children at the institution.

Acting Harare Mayor Councillor Stewart Mutizwa and female councillors came out in full support of the First Lady’s programme, with female councillors helping her in serving the breakfast.

The meal comprised tea with bread, fried and boiled eggs, baked beans and grilled tomatoes.

The children had a variety of choice for their spread that included jam, margarine and peanut butter.

First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa serves breakfast to children at Upenyu Utsva Children’s Home in Harare yesterday

The home’s superintendent Mr Michael Mukwaiwa described the First Lady’s visit as memorable and timely.

“Today is a special day which leaves me at a loss for words because the First Lady is living to the billing of her name as the mother of the nation,” he said. “She is not selective and cares mostly for the underprivileged.

“She has come to show that she has love for orphaned children and children facing many challenges in life. We are thankful for what the mother of the nation is doing countrywide through her breakfast feeding programme and today she served our children quality food which gives them a deep sense of belonging and that they are socially-included by virtue of the type of food and the person who has brought it, who is the mother of the nation.

“This encourages and gives the children zeal to lead a better life. We shall stay for a long time using some foodstuffs that have been left for us.”

The First Lady left mealie-meal, sugar, milk, baked beans, tea bags, eggs, bread, margarine, jam and peanut butter at the home for continuity of the feeding programme.

Children at the orphanage could not hide their delight over the visit.

To express their joy, they took turns to perform various activities for the First Lady that include dancing, singing and poetry.

A 16-year-old girl residing at the home said; “I came here in 2014 following the death of my father in a car accident which left me in the care of my stepmother. After my father’s demise, my stepmother said she could no longer stay with me.

“Even when my father was alive, she was abusive. She had two grown up daughters which she loved so much, while she treated me like an outcast. The house belonged to my father, but she sent me away following his death.

“Fortunately, our neighbours assisted me before I was brought here. I am so grateful for what the First Lady has done for us today. She prepared and served us scrumptious breakfast. She is giving us all the love which our biological mothers would have given us if they were alive.” Equally excited was a boy who to date has spent over a decade at the home.

“I came here when I was five-years-old and I came here not knowing where I was coming from because I was too young,” he said.

“I don’t even know my parents or relatives. I am now grown up and am now 16 -years-old and doing Form Four. I am happy for the First Lady’s visit and I thank her heartily for coming here to cook for us.”

Amai Mnangagwa highlighted that she had a passion for children and the underprivileged and invited companies with means to partner her Angel of Hope Foundation in efforts to ease the plight of the less privileged.

“This is not my first time to come here and I am happy seeing the discipline in these children,” she said. “This is our hope as parents to see children as disciplined as I have seen today. I want to thank Blue Star Logistics which came to my office seeking to work with me after seeing the philanthropic works I am doing across the country.

“The company gave a commitment to assist the underprivileged and left all in my hands to select homes for this breakfast feeding programme. I want to thank Blue Star and many other companies that have extended a hand and those that feel they can join hands with Angel of Hope Foundation.

“There is nothing big or small for the Foundation. Whatever you bring will be of great assistance to someone. It may be very small, but it will assist someone. I am not selective and I am saying companies with anything to offer, come on board so that we assist our people here in Zimbabwe who cannot fend for themselves.”

Blue Star Logistics operations director Mr Gerald Zumbika pledged his company’s continued support to the First Lady and her Angel of Hope Foundation’s efforts to ease the plight of the underprivileged.

Acting director for social development in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mr Tawanda Zimhunga praised the First Lady for her love.

“Being here at Hupenyu Hutsva Children’s Home is a reflection that you have passion for all your children,” he said.

“May you leave this place knowing that the children are also grateful for what you have done for them today Amai.

“You have left them great memories. Hupenyu Hutsva Children’s Home has felt the warmth of your embracement as the mother of the nation. You have really shown us that you are the mother to the motherless through your being here and spending quality time with these children. This is a symbol of love for our orphans and the vulnerable in the country.”

Mr Zimhunga said the ministry was appreciative of the sacrifices by the First Lady to spend quality time with vulnerable groups in the country.

The First Lady is taking her breakfast in homes programme to all the country’s provinces.

So far she has been to Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, Bulawayo and Harare.

At each home she is visiting; the First Lady donates an assortment of food for continuity of the programme.

In respect of her tireless efforts to ease the plight of the vulnerable, the First Lady after her breakfast programme in Bulawayo, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South, went on to donate truck-loads of foodstuffs and toiletries to the three provinces for the benefit of the elderly, the disabled and orphans, among other less privileged groups in communities.

Amai Mnangagwa, whose programmes are non-partisan, has been an angel of hope devoting time and resources to ensure vulnerable groups are not forgotten.