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sanitary ware to a 10-year-old Chipinge girl.
Amanda Walker, who is in Grade Three had her dire need for help identified by the Minister of Media, Information and Publicity, Cde Webster Shamu recently as he carried out a Zanu-PF party structures verification exercise in Chipinge.
He presented the case to Amai Mugabe who impulsively responded through the donation.
The goods and school fees were handed over to Amanda’s mother, Ms Gladys Sithole by Zanu-PF District Co-ordinating Committee chairman, Cde Simon Mapfumo Mapamba in the presence of Amanda’s stepfather, Mr Aaron Zaba, Mooiplats B headmaster, Mr Michael Nkomo and Singwizi villagers.
Cde Mapfumo expressed joy over the timely intervention by Amai Mugabe and commended the First Lady’s ability to respond to the needs of the less privileged in society.
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“We feel very proud as a district to be a beneficiary of this kind gesture by the First Lady. It really amazes me as I reflect on how long this child has suffered inadequacies in her school and social life as compared to the speed at which it has taken the national political commissar, Cde Shamu to inform Amai Mugabe and the subsequent favourable response,” said Cde Mapfumo.
“It was only last week when Cde Shamu met the child at one of our party functions and only 10 days down the line, Amanda has found a panacea to her woes. Her life will never be the same again.”
Accepting the donation, Amanda’s mother, Ms Sithole expressed her gratitude and said although she heard in the media about the First Lady’s charitable works in the country, she never thought that one day she would witness it being extended to her own daughter. Amanda lost her father when she was just three years old.
“Through the radio, I have heard of the First Lady’s donations to orphanages and other charitable organisations, but given the distance we are from Harare where the First Family lives and notwithstanding our social status as mere peasants in this part of the country, I never thought she would spare my child’s plight a thought,” she said as she wiped tears of unbelievable joy from her cheeks.
She added: “When the school headmaster enquired about my child’s educational and upkeep needs, I thought he wanted her to be enrolled under the Basic Education Assistance Module, little did I know that destiny had something in store for my child.”
A visibly jubilant Amanda, was at a loss of words as she could not believe her overnight change of status, from going to school barefooted and shabbily dressed to having uniforms.
Mooiplats B Primary School headmaster, Mr Nkomo, expressed pleasure over the help extended to one of his pupils.
He said Amanda joined the school when Beam assessment for the year had already been done and submitted to the relevant authorities.
“I have known the First Lady as patron of most charitable organisations in the country, but I never thought I would interface her charitable work like this one,” said Mr Nkomo.
“We really applaud Amai Mugabe’s donations and focus on empowering the girl child.
“Being orphaned and coming from a very poor family which can hardly afford a meal a day, we are very much appreciative of this donation, which in our view is an answer to our prayers regarding Amanda’s plight.
“Her plight was taking its toll on her educational performance. Although she was one of the school’s orphaned and vulnerable children and a cause of concern, we could not help her situation as we are a relatively a new school requiring a lot of resources for its construction as we move from satellite to an established school.
“From the time I came to know Amanda she has always been putting on a single dress and coming to school barefoot and this exposed her to waterborne diseases, given that our area is swampy.”
Mr Nkomo recommended that Amanda should be moved to a boarding school as the situation back home was not conducive, given its deplorable state.
Online Reporter