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Yeukai Karengezeka and Sallomy Matare
First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa yesterday attended the Mayor’s Cheer Fund ladies’ high tea where she urged women to be at the forefront of supporting underprivileged members of society.
She said it was everyone’s responsibility to look after the elderly, orphans and the disabled so as to improve their welfare.
Addressing the gathering, the First Lady, who is patron for Angel of Hope Foundation, said philanthropic work was very close to her heart.
“There are so many vulnerable children in our communities. Ladies, the task before us is not an easy one. Let us all come together and join hands as we have done today in order to protect the future generation,” she said.
“We also have the physically challenged children and HIV-infected kids who are in various care homes. The elderly, the blind and the orphans, are all looking up to us for support. Our development depends on our ability to nurture our children and look after the elderly.
“We need to act now and develop safety nets so that we prevent our children from growing up to be vulnerable adults. Let’s support each other, let’s share notes on how best we can put a stop to poverty, diseases and suffering.”
Amai Mnangagwa applauded efforts by the City Fathers in enhancing the welfare of the disadvantaged.
She also hailed the Mayor’s Cheer Fund initiative saying it was complementing her philanthropic work at national level.
“I welcome efforts being made by the current Mayor (Cllr Herbert Gomba) and Mayoress as well as the great accomplishments done by former mayors, mayoresses and their respective boards, in transforming the lives of the underprivileged members in the city.
“My organisation, Angel of Hope, also saw the great need and we are playing our part but we cannot do it alone. ‘Rume rimwe harikombe churu’, that is why I am so grateful that the Harare Mayor’s Cheer Fund is also playing its part in complementing what we are doing on a national scale,” she said.
The First Lady said she was pleased that the Cheer Fund was also running a scholarship programme which has produced students who have excelled in their studies.
She said she is working with the City of Harare and other partners on a programme to relocate street kids to a much safer habitat where they will be taken care of and sent to school.
Mayoress Lydia Gomba saluted the First Lady for gracing the occasion.
She also thanked the corporate world for taking part in charity work.
The Cheer Fund board chairperson, Ms Chipo Mashingaidze, said the fund was taking care of about 55 institutions comprising old peoples’ homes and orphanages in Harare.
Online Reporter