Sharon Jiyamwa-Herald Reporter
FIRST Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa has received a top international award, the International Women Icon Award 2026, from Malaysia’s Binary University Centre for Women in Leadership in recognition of her humanitarian work and contribution to community development through the Angel of Hope Foundation.
The annual award recognises one outstanding woman from across the world whose work has made a significant contribution to society.
The latest honour places Dr Mnangagwa among women whose work is making a significant impact beyond national borders, with her humanitarian initiatives through the Angel of Hope Foundation attracting international recognition. The prestigious International Women Icon Award 2026, which recognises one outstanding woman from across the world each year, was presented to Dr Mnangagwa in Harare yesterday.
The award adds to her growing list of international accolades, including the Global Education Leadership Award from Cambridge International Education in the United Kingdom and the Pan African Humanitarian Award presented in Morocco.
The award was presented by the Director of the Centre for Women in Leadership, Dr Rohini Devi, and Binary University founder Professor Joseph Adaikalam, who said Dr Mnangagwa’s philanthropic work had inspired the institution, particularly her commitment to uplifting vulnerable communities.
Dr Devi paid tribute to the First Lady for her longstanding commitment to empowering women and transforming communities through practical interventions.
She said the First Lady’s work in empowering women predated her becoming First Lady, highlighting her earlier initiatives in the Midlands Province.
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa holds her International Women Icon Award 2026 as she poses for a group photo with Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi (second left), Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira (left), Binary University founder Professor Joseph Adaikalam and Centre for Women in Leadership director Dr Rohini Devi in Harare yesterday.
“On behalf of the Centre for Women in Leadership, it is my great honour to present you with the International Women Icon Award 2026 as a daughter of Zimbabwe, as the mother of a nation and as proof that when a woman leads, every move counts,” she said.
“Even before Your Excellency became the First Lady, you were already helping women build their own futures. Compassion may feed a family for a day, but opportunity can help a family thrive for a lifetime.”
Dr Devi said Dr Mnangagwa had supported the establishment of women’s banks in the Midlands Province while encouraging women to generate income through livestock production, fishponds, nutrition gardens, handicrafts and cross-border trading.
She said these initiatives created pathways for women to strengthen their families and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
Dr Devi said that when Dr Mnangagwa became First Lady in 2017, she left her seat in Parliament and devoted herself fully to serving the nation.
“Many hold their title as an ornament, but Your Excellency chose to expand your purpose,” she said.
Through the Angel of Hope Foundation, Dr Devi said, the First Lady had transformed compassion into action by supporting vulnerable children through education and school feeding programmes.
She said the foundation had also empowered widows, teenage mothers and persons with disabilities through skills development while helping bring healthcare closer to underserved communities.
Dr Devi commended the First Lady’s Agric4She initiative for advancing women’s participation in agriculture and creating opportunities for them to move beyond subsistence farming towards sustainable livelihoods.
She also highlighted the First Lady’s youth and cultural initiatives, saying they were nurturing responsible leadership and preserving Zimbabwe’s heritage.
Through Nhanga, Gota and Ixhiba, Dr Devi said, young people were being encouraged to learn from their elders, respect their cultural heritage and carry its wisdom into the future.
She said the Zimbabwe National Fabric, known as Zimprint, was another expression of Dr Mnangagwa’s commitment to national unity, patriotism and the preservation of Zimbabwe’s identity.
“Together, these initiatives nurture responsible young people and help keep the nation’s cultural heritage alive for generations to come,” she said.
Dr Devi said the First Lady’s work sent a powerful message that no child should be forgotten, no woman denied opportunity and no community left behind.
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa displays her International Women Icon Award 2026 alongside Binary University founder Professor Joseph Adaikalam in Harare.
She said Dr Mnangagwa had extended her support to the elderly, children and girls, including those requiring access to sanitary wear and protection against cervical cancer.
Dr Devi said the National HPV vaccination programme was protecting hundreds of thousands of girls aged between 10 and 14 against cervical cancer.
She also commended the First Lady for supporting the establishment of mothers’ waiting shelters, which help women in distant communities access safe maternal healthcare before delivery.
Mobile medical services were also bringing healthcare closer to underserved communities, while improved facilities at Parirenyatwa Hospital were providing patients travelling long distances for treatment with decent places to rest.
Dr Devi said these interventions demonstrated the First Lady’s commitment to improving the well-being of women, children and vulnerable communities across the country. Prof Adaikalam said Dr Mnangagwa was the only person in the world receiving the honour this year.
“Her Excellency, the First Lady, is the only person in the world who is being recognised this year. Every year, the Centre selects only one person in the world.
“It is not one person in Africa, but one person in the world. And that person this year is Her Excellency, the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa,” he said.
Prof Adaikalam said the Centre for Women in Leadership was established in 2006, making this year its 20th anniversary.
Accepting the award, Dr Mnangagwa expressed gratitude and humility, dedicating the honour to women across generations whose contributions continue to shape families, communities and nations.
“I am humbled by this honour to receive the prestigious International Women Icon Award 2026 from Malaysia’s Binary University Centre for Women in Leadership.
“I accept this award with humility, conscious of the fact that it carries a greater responsibility to continue serving communities and championing the advancement and empowerment of youths, girls, women and disadvantaged members of society,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said the recognition was an added honour to the personal fulfilment she derived from interacting with communities and witnessing the positive impact of various empowerment initiatives.
“This award is not only a personal honour, but a recognition of the collective efforts of women across generations and borders, who have demonstrated resilience, courage and determination in transforming the lives and livelihoods of their families, communities and nations.
“It serves as a powerful reminder of the role women play in our societies and renews my commitment to the work that lies ahead,” she said.
The First Lady said President Dr Mnangagwa had taught the nation that “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”, which translates to “A country is built by its own people”. She said she was pleased that Zimbabwe had made strides in creating spaces where women could mentor others and open doors for future generations.
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa chats with Binary University founder Professor Joseph Adaikalam during the presentation of the International Women Icon Award 2026 in Harare yesterday.
“As leaders, our success should be measured by the number of lives we touch through the opportunities we create. I would like to commend the Centre for Women in Leadership for creating platforms that recognise, celebrate and encourage women to pursue excellence.
“The importance of recognising women leaders cannot be underestimated, as it gives confidence to those who are already serving, while providing inspiration to young women who are still finding their place in society,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa paid tribute to women for their resilience and determination in transforming their families and communities, saying their empowerment remained central to sustainable development.
“An empowered woman does not rise alone; she lifts others up with her and leaves no woman behind.
“This is the spirit that has carried my work in Zimbabwe through initiatives aimed at empowering women and girls and supporting vulnerable communities,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said women had always been at the heart of communities through their roles in nurturing families, preserving cultures and contributing to economic development.
She, however, noted that many women and girls continued to face barriers that prevented them from fully realising their potential.
Through the Angel of Hope Foundation, Dr Mnangagwa said she had interacted with communities across the country and witnessed the extraordinary strength of women who were transforming adversity into opportunity.
“I have seen women transform adversity into opportunity, improving lives and livelihoods with limited resources.
“Empowerment is therefore most meaningful when it reaches the woman in the community, the girl dreaming of an education and the woman building a better future,” she said.
Dr Mnangagwa said her work across Zimbabwe, particularly programmes targeting women, youths, children and vulnerable groups, was driven by a genuine desire to improve people’s lives rather than the pursuit of recognition.
She called for stronger collaboration among women leaders, urging them to create opportunities for mentorship, knowledge sharing and the advancement of future generations.
“I encourage the building of a strong and enduring network of women leaders.
“Let us tell every girl that she has a place at the table, that her voice matters, that her ideas matter and that she too can become a leader,” she said.
The First Lady commended the Centre for Women in Leadership for creating platforms that recognise and encourage women to pursue excellence, saying such recognition inspires both established leaders and young women aspiring to make a difference.
The ceremony was graced by Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi, who delivered the keynote address and said Government was grateful for the First Lady’s commitment to uplifting vulnerable communities and empowering women.
He said the award was a recognition not only of Dr Mnangagwa’s humanitarian work but also of the invaluable contribution women make to families, communities and national development.
“Allow me, on behalf of the Government and the people of the Republic of Zimbabwe, to express our sincere appreciation to the Centre for Women in Leadership for this prestigious award,” he said.
Congratulating the First Lady on the international recognition, he said the award should further encourage her continued commitment to humanitarian service and the well-being of the people.
VP Mohadi said women were not merely beneficiaries of development but were architects, drivers and custodians of national transformation.
“Women are not merely beneficiaries of development; they are architects, drivers and custodians of our nation’s transformation,” he said.
First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa interacts with members of the diplomatic corps during the presentation of the International Women Icon Award 2026 in Harare.
VP Mohadi highlighted the First Lady’s agricultural empowerment initiatives, which have equipped women farmers with inputs, machinery and training to strengthen household livelihoods and contribute to national food security.
He cited programmes such as Pfumvudza/Intwasa, Banana4She, Gusha, fisheries, poultry and AgroTourism4She as some of the initiatives supporting women’s participation in agriculture and advancing the country’s development aspirations under Vision 2030.
The Vice President also commended Dr Mnangagwa’s humanitarian interventions, particularly those targeting orphans, vulnerable communities and families.
He said that through initiatives such as Nhanga and Gota, the First Lady had brought critical social issues affecting communities into the national conversation.
The International Women Icon Award 2026 presented to First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa in Harare yesterday.
VP Mohadi singled out her advocacy against child marriages, gender-based violence and drug and substance abuse, saying such challenges continued to threaten the well-being of women, children and young people.
Through community outreach programmes and engagement with families, he said, the First Lady was championing the protection of the girl child, the promotion of women’s rights and dignity, and the creation of safer and healthier communities.
He said the recognition was a reminder that leadership should be measured by the difference made in people’s lives rather than position or politics.
VP Mohadi also urged Zimbabwean women and girls to continue pursuing their aspirations and participating in national development.
He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to women’s empowerment, saying the country’s development agenda remained inclusive, with women playing a central role in shaping Zimbabwe’s future.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Professor Amon Murwira described the First Lady as an icon whose work had extended Zimbabwe’s humanitarian footprint beyond its borders.
He said her initiatives demonstrated the importance of community-centred interventions in addressing social challenges and improving people’s lives.
Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps follow proceedings during the presentation of the International Women Icon Award 2026 in Harare. — Pictures: Justin Mutenda.
“Our First Lady has brought strength to communities, and she has championed Zimbabwean dignity and human dignity in general.
“It bears testimony to the far-reaching impact of her philanthropic work on family welfare, community employment and the prospects for future generations,” he said.
The ceremony was attended by diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe, Zimbabwean ambassadors and senior Government officials.
Through the Angel of Hope Foundation, established in 2018, the First Lady has spearheaded interventions in health, education, child welfare, women’s empowerment and community development.
Her work has benefited vulnerable communities across Zimbabwe, while her participation in international platforms has created opportunities to share experiences and strengthen collaboration in humanitarian development.
