Online Reporter
Blessings Chidakwa
Senior Reporter
HATCLIFFE suburb woke up to an extraordinary show of care and compassion as Mother Zimbabwe, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, brought the Toddlers Warm Bowl Initiative to the community.
Multitudes of smiling toddlers accompanied by their mothers gathered at Hatcliffe 1 Primary School, where they were served wholesome, health-approved porridge by Dr Mnangagwa, under an initiative aimed at ensuring children receive the nutritious meals essential for their healthy growth and development.
Launched in January in Epworth, the Toddlers Warm Bowl Project has been placing the well-being of young children at the centre of national care.
More consignments of the nutritious porridge are set to be distributed to clinics and hospitals countrywide to ensure that more children benefit from the initiative.
From the first spoonful to the last, the event was a celebration of nutrition, love and community.
Toddlers eagerly enjoyed bowls of nutritious, health-approved porridge, while their mothers watched on with relief and gratitude. For many, the project represents more than just a meal, it is a message that every child matters.
In Hatcliffe, Dr Mnangagwa showed her hands-on approach by personally preparing porridge and teaching mothers how to make it before serving it to the eager little ones with help from local women.
Mother Zimbabwe outlined the numerous benefits of the porridge, saying that it improves children’s learning ability, provides age-appropriate energy, boosts the immune system and helps prevent malnutrition, which continues to affect children of various ages.
“Our children must eat nutritious food so that they grow up healthy and strong. This porridge promotes their health, but it does not replace the food they usually eat at home.
“It is meant to complement what you prepare, helping your child grow strong, full of energy and ready for school. Mothers, continue to cook for your children, care for them, and guide them, just as you lovingly did during the nine months of pregnancy.”
The porridge set to be sent in large quantities to health institutions to be fed to children has been tested and approved by health professionals. It contains a variety of ingredients rich in vitamins and minerals that promote proper growth, enhance intelligence, and improve performance at school.
For preparation of the porridge, one simply adds one tablespoon to lukewarm water. The porridge is being provided through a partnership between the Angel of Hope Foundation and Food4Africa, who are responsible for its preparation.
When the feeding ended, she personally oversaw the distribution of food hampers, ensuring that no attendee left empty-handed.
Even with the overwhelming turnout, she remained until every individual had received a hamper, showcasing her unwavering dedication to families.
The programme held last Monday resulted in many eager to learn and connect with fellow community members. Designed to empower communities through knowledge sharing and meaningful exchange, the gathering brought together people from diverse backgrounds.
Participants took turns reflecting on teachings by Mother Zimbabwe, addressing topics such as child marriages, drug and substance abuse, appropriate dressing and the importance of harmony among in-laws.
Community members openly shared their experiences and insights on issues affecting families and society including alcohol abuse with some mothers admitting to frequenting beerhalls.
Taking a leaf from the First Lady’s teachings they shared among themselves that they should return home, uphold their dignity and lead their families with love and guidance.
The First Lady said she was pleased that, as one united family, they had gathered to share ideas, learn from one another, celebrate, encourage each other and strengthen peaceful coexistence in line with Zimbabwe’s customs and values.
Dr Mnangagwa, who always values spending time with women known for being active and highly participative in her programmes, said that even biblically, God walks with those who love, are humble, and are willing to learn, favouring people of good character who respect one another.
“God has entrusted mothers with many responsibilities. Every challenge that comes your way, He knows you are strong enough to overcome it. Mothers, you are caregivers, protectors, guides and teachers. Embrace this sacred responsibility and raise your children with love, discipline, and wisdom.
“Children need guidance until they grow into responsible adults. Some may be tempted by drugs or alcohol. Mothers, guard your children and ensure they do not lose their way. Alcohol does not raise a child; your love, presence and care do.”
The First Lady also said that raising a child is a shared community responsibility, urging parents, guardians and society to work together to instil discipline, moral values and a strong education.
The First Lady led a lively and interactive session on the dynamics between in-laws and families.
Some of the responses had the audience laughing.
One participant said, “I have four wonderful daughters-in-law. We live in harmony such that if my son has a girlfriend, we gang up together to confront her.”
Another added, “Mothers-in-law should be content with what we give them, because I also have my own family to take care of. We all have responsibilities.”
A daughter-in-law shared her perspective: “Where I got married, my mother-in-law asks for money from my husband instead of telling me, her wife. That needs to be addressed.”
Offering advice, a mother-in-law said, “What we reap is what we sow. The values we teach our children at home the love, prayer and guidance are what they carry into their own marriages.”
An elderly woman reminded everyone, “Let us work with our own hands and take care of ourselves as long as we are able. We should not expect a daughter-in-law to provide for us; she has her own family to care for.”
Dr Mnangagwa also encouraged women to dress appropriately before inviting some to showcase their attire, calling on community members to comment on who was dressed modestly in line with the country’s traditions.
The winner was an elderly woman wearing a beautiful green outfit, who left the stage with a confident catwalk.
Clad in tight jeans, a middle-aged woman now a grandmother said she loves wearing tight fitting trousers and has even vowed to teach her granddaughters to embrace her style of dressing, adding that this is what she feels most comfortable wearing.
Another woman, visibly excited, expressed her love for Dr Mnangagwa and ululated in celebration urging the community to live in harmony and to follow the First Lady’s guidance, thanking her for travelling across the country to uplift communities through her philanthropic work.
“I am happy to see Amai Mnangagwa, and I will listen to her teachings. I encourage everyone in our community: let us live together peacefully and follow the lessons we have received today,” she said.
Beneficiaries spoke not just of relief, but of gratitude that seemed to ripple through the crowd.
Caregivers stood a little taller, filled with renewed purpose, while elders looked on with pride, seeing a nation nurturing its youngest with compassion and care.
Mrs Jesi Mahwengwa, cradling her toddler in one arm and a warm bowl in the other, beamed as she described the porridge.
“It’s nutritious and only needs lukewarm water to prepare. We thank our First Lady for giving us healthy food. It’s very good,” she said.
Nearby, Mrs Juliet Haisa demonstrated the simple preparation process to other mothers, showing how just a stir and a splash of water transformed the powder into a wholesome meal.
“We thank our mother, the First Lady, for the healthy and tasty porridge. We were taught how to prepare it properly. It’s so simple,” she said.
Ms Gladys Gwati chimed in with relief, saying the initiative would improve children’s health across the community.
“We simply add lukewarm water to the porridge Amai Mnangagwa brought and our children stay healthy. We are very happy,” she said, smiling as her little one eagerly took the first spoonful.
Even parents with busy school routines found a helping hand in the initiative. Ms Sophia Mazhetese described the porridge as both nutritious and convenient.
“It’s tasty, easy to prepare, and doesn’t take long perfect for parents with school-going children,” she said.
Elderly Mr Keith Moyo said the First Lady’s support would go a long way in supplementing their food supplies.
“We are truly grateful to our First Lady. The food and assistance we received will make a real difference in our lives. It makes us feel cared for and supported.
“Her compassion shows that she genuinely cares for every member of the community and we thank her from the bottom of our hearts,” he said.
Another beneficiary, a widow, also shared her gratitude.
“Life has been difficult since the passing of my husband, but I am doing my best to manage. Support like this warms my heart and gives me comfort.
“The First Lady has reminded us that we are not forgotten, and her kindness gives me the strength to keep going,” she said.
Others thanked the First Lady for sharing guidance on family issues, including how in-laws can live together peacefully and how to protect children from challenges such as drug and substance abuse.
“We are very grateful to Amai Mnangagwa for teaching us how to handle family problems and protect our children from drugs. It has opened our eyes,” said Mrs Rudo Chikore.
Similarly, Mrs Patience Moyo added, “It’s not just the porridge or the hampers that help us; the advice on family matters and raising children responsibly has given us hope and direction. We are truly thankful to our First Lady.”
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province, Charles Tawengwa, expressed sincere gratitude to the First Lady for the care she continues to show towards children, noting that within a short space of time she had once again visited the community in Epworth to provide nutritious food.
He also thanked Dr Mnangagwa for the guidance and knowledge she imparts to mothers, equipping them with essential child-care skills, as demonstrated by the time she takes to teach practical ways of caring for children, leaving no one and no place behind.
The Minister further commended the First Lady for her numerous life-changing initiatives across the country, including the Angel of Hope Drug Rehabilitation Centre, cancer awareness campaigns, and the Nhanga/Gota programmes, which continue to transform communities nationwide.
In every smile and every gesture, the impact of the Toddlers Warm Bowl Project and accompanying support was clear: it wasn’t just food; it was guidance, care and a promise that no family would be overlooked.
The event was also marked by vibrant entertainment as gospel musicians Dorcas Moyo, Mathias Mhere, and Sungura artist Allan Chimbetu, among others, delivered spirited performances that kept the crowd on their toes.
Songs of praise rose spontaneously, children waved joyfully, and mothers held their bowls with dignity and pride.
The Toddlers Warm Bowl Project now stands as a symbol of practical compassion rooted in empathy, delivered with grace and embraced by thousands.
In Hatcliffe, a community came together in warmth and optimism, united by a simple yet powerful promise: to nourish hope, one child at a time.
The event once again showcased Dr Mnangagwa’s commitment to improving the lives of citizens, especially with regard to nutrition.
