adminTendai Rupapa, Harare Bureau
First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, on Wednesday took her clean-homes-campaign to Mashonaland West province visiting families in Chinhoyi to promote cleanliness.
The campaign is part of her drive to promote cleanliness and hygienic practices to curtail the spread of water-borne diseases.
The First Lady is also promoting testing of breast and cervical cancer among women across Zimbabwe.
She has so far been to Budiriro and Glen View suburbs in Harare where there was a cholera outbreak which claimed 54 lives.At least 1000 cholera cases were also recorded in the two suburbs.
In Chinhoyi, the First Lady visited residents of Golf Course Flats where she commended them for maintaining cleanliness.
She later visited Nazareth and Chengetanai Old People’s Homes where she spent the day mixing and mingling with the elderly.
The First Lady also donated an assortment of goods that included groceries and blankets to inmates at the homes.
Addressing women at the Golf Course Flats, the First Lady said people should always ensure that their homes are clean and that their families practise good hygiene.
“Ndauya kuno kuti tizotaure nyaya yehutsanana ndichiona magariro amakaita. Ndapinda dzimba dzakawanda pano ndikaona dzakachena kwazvo. Ndochikurudzira zvakare kuti even nharaunda dzedu ngatidzichengetedze dzakachena. (I have come here so that we can discuss issues of hygiene. I have been to several homes here and I found them very clean. We must also maintain cleanliness around our environs.)
“Honai zvirwere kuwanda kwazvaita. Zvawandisa zvekuti tomboti, cholera yauya pano hapana anosara nekuti tiri panzvimbo imwe chete. Saka tese tikachengetedza hutsanana zvirwere izvi zvinogona kupera.
“Vanamai ndinokurudzira zvikuru kuti pese pamuri ngapave pakashambidzika nekuti donzvo riripo nderekuti ndirikuda kuti madzimai mugare dzimba dzenyu dzakatsvinda (I appeal to all women to maintain high standards of hygiene),” she said.
She said people should always ensure that their homes are clean, the food they eat is well-cooked and their families practise good hygiene.
She also took time to preach the gospel of unity urging women to join forces to start income-generating projects.
The First Lady said such a move would uplift their lives while contributing to macro-economic development in Zimbabwe.
After visiting the families, Amai Mnagwagwa then went to the old people’s homes where she received a thunderous welcome from the elderly and residents in the neighbourhood.
She interacted and shared lighter moments with the elderly.In her address, the First Lady said it was everyone’s responsibility to look after the elderly in society.
“Because of this visit, we get to know each other. The elderly are the ones who are full of wisdom and have knowledge of the country’s history.
“I am urging churches, the corporate world and the generality of Zimbabweans to dedicate resources and their time to the welfare of the elderly.
“Let us all take care of the elderly so that their lifestyles match with those who are still fit and working for themselves.”
The elderly entertained the crowd through folktales and poems. Amai Mnangagwa said she engaged relevant authorities in Chinhoyi on the issue of them to get screened for cancer and getting checked for other ailments associated with old age.
She also paid tribute to caregivers at the two old people’s homes saying they had big hearts full of love.
Amai Mnangagwa gave away food hampers and kitchen utensils to women whose homes were clean.
The First Lady, who is also the Ambassador of Women and Children’s Health, has been visiting communities across Zimbabwe promoting healthy living among citizens.
Through the Angel of Hope Foundation where she is the patron, Amai Mnangagwa has been leading in the fight against cancer while urging women to get tested for cervical and breast cancer.
In Budiriro, she did laundry, cleaned dishes, scrubbed floors and swept yards among other household chores before heading to Glen View where she cleared heaps of garbage at illegal dumping sites.
In Chinhoyi she was accompanied by Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Mashonaland West, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, Chinhoyi Mayor, Dyke Makumbi and other senior Government officials.
Online Reporter