adminRatidzai Manditsvanga Manicaland Correspondent
TWENTY charity organisations drawn from Manicaland received an early Christmas present from First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa through her Angel of Hope Foundation which partnered with Higher Life Foundation and handed over food hampers and blankets in Mutare last Friday.
The gesture came as part of Amai Mnangagwa’s Ruoko Runopa/Isandla Esiphayo/Giving Hand programme to help children’s homes, old people’s homes and people living with disabilities across the country.
Angel of Hope Foundation board trustee Advocate Tichaona Muhonde, who was representing Amai Mnangagwa at the event, said the nationwide initiative was targeting 100 children’s homes, 25 old people’s homes and 16 institutions looking people living with disabilities.
“This nationwide Christmas hamper programme was launched on the 18th of December 2018 by our patron, Amai Auxilia Mnangagwa, and we have aptly titled this programme Ruoko Runopa/Isandla Esiphayo/Giving Hand and all 10 provinces will be having distribution centres,” he said.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba, who was being represented by the director in her office, Mr Kennedy Mugarisanwa at the event, appreciated the gesture saying it gives hope to the less privileged.
“This is a welcome gesture and we want to thank our lovely mother, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, for what she has done. We are not equal but this gesture have made us all equal and have given hope to the less fortunate in Manicaland this festive season,” she said.
Homes and orphanages that received the hampers also expressed their gratitude to the First Lady for her kind gesture.
Sister Blandina Mariko from Zororai Old People’s Home in Sakubva said this was a pleasant surprise as they had nothing to give the old people with at their home this Christmas.
“I did not expect this. I was just called and when I came I was shocked to see a pile of goodies for us. I was surprised because we were not expecting anything as our storeroom is empty. I cannot explain how I am feeling right now,” she said.
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