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Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau
FIRST Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa today donated foodstuffs to seven children’s homes in Mashonaland West through her Angel of Hope Foundation, where administrators were challenged to exercise due diligence against new Covid-19 strains.

The donation seeks to support the health and nutrition needs of the homes and orphanages in the province.

Administrators from the homes said the gesture by Amai Mnangagwa came at an opportune time when they were facing food challenges due to prolonged the Covid19 pandemic and lockdowns.

Good Shepherd Children’s home administrator, Mrs Farai Zunzanyika said the assistance from the First Lady boosted food supplies at the children’s facility.

“We have at least 48 children including 22 girls. The First Lady’s gesture has addressed the food items that we were lacking.

Without cooking oil, washing soap and roller meal, it becomes difficult for us to take care of the children,” she said.

Children’s homes’ administrators collect their share of the donated food stuffs

“However, we are also facing challenges with firewood that we use for cooking as we cannot afford electricity or gas.”
Kadoma Training Institute administrator, Miss Ellen Muchokwani said the assistance came at the right time and was a huge relief for the home.

Delivering the food items on behalf of the First Lady, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mary Mliswa Chikoka thanked Amai Mnangagwa for remembering the homes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

She outlined the need by the homes and opharnage to continue adhering to World Health Organisation’s Covid-19 guidelines.
She said none of the homes across the province had recorded any positive cases.

“In these trying times of Covid-19, Amai continues to remember the less privileged and I’m glad that in her wisdom she has remembered our children in the homes augmenting Government’s efforts of ensuring that even in this difficult times, everyone especially the vulnerable are supported.

“I’m also impressed by the level of vigilance exhibited by administrators running our homes.

“I have not received a single case of Covid-19 recorded at our homes. Let’s maintain that in our homes because while we may think that children are not affected severely the virus, you the care givers are at risk,” she said.

Minister Mliswa-Chikoka who recently survived the pandemic also said children above 10 years of age were not safe from the new strain of the virus.

“With this new strain, administrators should be vigilant and keep our children safe and avoid allowing outsiders into the homes.”

Speaking to The Herald on the sidelines of the event, provincial social development officer Mrs Agness Mutowo said the department was working tirelessly to ensure that all the homes include those of the old were protected from the pandemic.

“We are monitoring Covid-19 guidelines and regulations at all the homes across the province.

We are emphasising restricted number of visitors, masking and sanitising.

“It is also a must that children stay inside the premises to avoid interacting with outsiders, ” she said.
Children’s homes in Zvimba, Makonde, Hurungwe district and Norton received the foodstuffs.