Online Reporter
Blessings Chidakwa, Senior Reporter
FRIDAY night was no ordinary one, as Cultural and Heritage Ambassador First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa hosted an impactful African-themed cultural gastronomic dinner at State House, which was also graced by her supportive husband, President Mnangagwa.
Mother Zimbabwe hosted the dinner to show appreciation to the Angel of Hope Foundation’s partners and well-wishers for their unwavering support, which enables her to traverse the length and breadth of the country carrying out her philanthropic work.
The resolute support from these partners has allowed her to alleviate the plight of the needy across all provinces, including women, children, the sick, the elderly, widows, former ladies of the night, orphans, child-headed families and street children, among others.
It was a night of glitz and glamour, with the majority of guests clad in beautiful national dress and indulging in Zimbabwean traditional cuisines and beverages. Guests were visibly delighted, enjoying the vibrant atmosphere and festive spirit throughout the evening.
The experience gave attendees a profound sense of belonging and pride in the country’s rich cultural heritage.
The theme of the event, “60s Meet Modernity with National Pride,” saw guests adorned in national fabrics complemented by a touch of sixties style.
A vibrant fashion show added flair to the event, featuring stunning creations crafted from national fabric by local designers such as Ivhu Tribe, Zarguesia, Tendayi Mazhinye and Albert Jeyacheya.
In an effort to encourage the appreciation of highly nutritious and medicinal traditional dishes, Mother Zimbabwe treated guests to a generous spread of mouth-watering local cuisine.
The menu also included the popular homemade alcoholic brew known as Seven-Days, expertly prepared by seasoned elderly women, and it quickly became a favourite among many attendees.
Thanks to host Dr Mnangagwa’s inclusive approach, the well-co-ordinated and oversubscribed gathering brought together people from all walks of life, including ministers, foreign dignitaries, traditional leaders, artists among several others.
In her address, the Mother of the Nation expressed gratitude to her loving husband, father of the family, President Dr Mnangagwa, for his support and for allowing her to travel across the country to pursue her empowerment and philanthropic initiatives.
“Baba, I want to thank you very much that you have allowed me to go everywhere I feel like going and doing what I feel those people need. Sometimes I forget to say, ‘Baba, I have left,’” she said.
The First Lady also extended her appreciation to the Angel of Hope Foundation partners for their steadfast support, which enables her to carry out humanitarian work nationwide.
“I want to recognise my partners. We have travelled the long way from 2018 until today. My partners, thank you very much that every year you support me through and through. All what I am doing is because of you,” she said.
“If you look at what I am doing, if you watch media, you will see all what I am doing is because of the hand that you lent to me. When I go to the people out there, I go with something that I will leave for them. But your hand is seen in that work as well. I am just a tool that is being used, but your hand is moving with me.”
The First Lady said she had organised the cultural night in honour of the diverse traditions that make Zimbabwe a uniquely unified nation.
Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, paid glowing tribute to President Mnangagwa, commending him for being a supportive husband who has allowed Mother Zimbabwe to flourish in her role.
“We want to thank His Excellency the President, who is a liberal husband, who has allowed the First Lady to be who she ought to be, to be able to do all those things she has been doing throughout,” he said.
“Good things are good things, chakanaka chakanaka, mukaka haurungwe. There may be others who may not support you, our mother. Don’t worry. Shoulder on, the majority of the people of Zimbabwe in Africa and throughout the world will continue to commend your good works.”
Advocate Mudenda also paid tribute to the First Lady for being a pillar of strength to the President.
“It is rare to have a successful man who becomes the Head of State and Government without having the support of his better half, who must walk not in front, not behind, but side by side with him. That is what our First Lady has done.
“She has walked side by side with His Excellency and in so doing got the necessary strength to do the work which has been shining not only in Zimbabwe, but throughout the world,” he said.
Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, started by thanking the President as the first business partner, saying, “We know you are the husband, but tonight we are speaking of the partners of Angel of Hope.”
“You are the first person who allowed our First Lady to do all these works. Without you allowing her to go ahead, the country itself would not be where we are today,” she said.
“We are here to thank the partners of Angel of Hope, to celebrate the works that you have been supporting our First Lady since 2017, but most of you have been supporting the First Lady ever since she was a wife of an MP, a wife of a Minister, a wife of a Vice President and today the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe.”
Minister Rwodzi highlighted Mother Zimbabwe’s numerous initiatives, which have positively influenced various sectors, including health and tourism, among several others.
“Angel of Hope Foundation is doing a lot of work, particularly in the health sector. In the social sphere, Your Excellency, you are doing a lot of work. Most of us in the country, when you started, we thought, ‘Ah, ko Amai varikuitei?’ until we all started benefitting, and now we are a part of you.
“There are cancer patients across the country, orphans, widows, but Baba, Your Excellency President, she has assisted.
“Nhanga/Gota/Ixhiba is an amazing programme that the First Lady started, which saw her this year in May being invited by Unesco to honour her for the works that she is doing in retaining African culture in this Zimbabwean country,” she said.
Minister Rwodzi said due to the First Lady’s sterling work locally and beyond, she has earned titles such as “Mother Africa” and “Queen of Gastronomy” from her international admirers.
“We are here to celebrate, to eat and drink, celebrating the works of a woman who has taken Zimbabwe to another level.
“The Master of Ceremony has just called the First Lady Mother Zimbabwe, but let me correct you, my dear friend: yes, we call her Mother Zimbabwe because she’s our First Lady here, but the United Nations tourism has just named her Mother Africa, the Queen of African Gastronomy, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa,” she said.
Musicians including Vee from Botswana, the In Total Band, the Police Band, Mbeu, Cynthia Mare and Prince Chigwida kept guests entertained and on their feet throughout the night.
