Cementing ties on his birthday Mayihlome turns 72 by donating 400 bags of cement

IN the true spirit of building one’s country brick by brick, Umzingwane Member of Parliament Cde Levi Mayihlome chose to mark his 72nd birthday not with fanfare or finery, but with something far more enduring: 400 bags of cement, pressed into the service of progress.

It was a birthday gesture that felt less like a celebration and more like a covenant — an offering to the soil that raised him, a practical poem to the future he hopes to shape for his constituency.

Instead of invitations to opulence or tokens of affection wrapped in ribbons, Cde Mayihlome, who is also Deputy Minister of Defence, asked well-wishers to buy cement. It was a request both disarmingly simple and profoundly symbolic — love, transfigured into stone and strength, poured into foundations for the people he serves.

The beneficiaries are as diverse as the dreams they hold: two expecting mothers’ shelters where new life takes its first breath in dignity; seven primary schools and eight secondary schools where young minds are scaffolded; the district hospital, the Heroes Information Centre, and the community hall — spaces that bind communities, heal bodies, and preserve histories.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Cde Mayihlome said the people of Umzingwane hold a special place in his heart.

“Today we gather to celebrate 72 years of life and 55 years of service in Zimbabwe.
“I could have enjoyed the cake, songs, and dance with my family and close friends, but I said, for 71 years they had their chance; let me dedicate Levi Mayihlome @ 72 and 55 years of service to the people of

Umzingwane that I love so much and to whom I am a servant,” said Cde Mayihlome.
Mr Obert Chinhamo, one of the coordinators of the cement drive, shared how this philanthropic work came to life like a candle passed from hand to hand, each heart catching its spark from another.

“When friends of Levi Mayihlome organised a small surprise birthday party for him in November, he was touched and wanted to share his birthday with the people of Umzingwane. He suggested a big cake for everyone, which sparked the idea of sourcing cement for each ward. The cake was bought by Umzingwane’s businesspeople, farmers, miners, and residents,” said Mr Chinhamo.

He said the MP’s actions reflected the President’s vision, particularly his mantra, “Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo,” — which emphasises that we all have a role to play in building the Zimbabwe we want.

“This act is the fulfilment of His Excellency the President’s Vision 2030 — no ward is being left behind. The actual cake might be small but it is the thought that counts. Honourable Levi Mayihlome, what you have demonstrated today shows true love for the people of Umzingwane, and love for your country,” said Mr Chinhamo.

Umzingwane Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Sithembiso Sibanda, lauded the MP for dedicating his special day to the district’s development, her words carrying both warmth and benediction.

“I’ve never witnessed such selflessness; may God grant you many more years of good health, allowing us to benefit from your kindness. It’s better to give than to receive, and may your generosity be rewarded,” she said.

The cement donation, a quiet and unshowy testament to service, will not simply stack up as bags delivered and tallies counted; it will cure into walls that hold hope, roofs that keep out the rain, clinic corridors that echo with reassured footsteps, and classrooms where chalk dust rises like morning mist.

As the people of Umzingwane celebrated their MP’s 72nd birthday, they were reminded that leadership is not a podium or a parade — it is a hand extended, a resource redirected, an example set.
And in that spirit, the day became more than a milestone; it became a blueprint.