Thank you, First Lady

Shame Isaki
The Bible says in Matthew 21 v 18 “Now in the morning as he (Jesus) returned into the city, he hungered. And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it and found nothing thereon, but leaves only and said unto it, “Let no fruit grow on thee hence forward forever”.  
And presently the fig tree withered away.  Isaiah 5 v 1-7 is also a parable about an unfruitful vine tree which was well tendered but had to be cut down and burnt because of unfruitfulness.  Life is meaningful only when we make a difference in other people’s lives.  It’s quite saddening to note that there are many people with a lot of money or resources who could otherwise help transform other people’s lives but they don’t even bother to turn and look.

In Mutare here I have seen the so-called big fish book one hotel after the other with girls as young as their daughters, spending money and resources which could otherwise go a long way in helping put a smile on disadvantaged citizens.  If a survey is to be conducted to ascertain how many well-off Mutare citizens have extended a helping hand to the needy communities, we will discover to our shock that only a few have been donating a few groceries and clothes here and there which is not bad in itself but I think we need to go an extra mile and nurture life until maturity and fruition.

Donations and handouts are good but they last for only so long.  Taking over and sponsoring a life to independence and self-sustenance is a remarkable thing to do and this is what the First Lady has chosen to do.  She has given an identity to people who otherwise had surrendered their lives to fate.  We are stewards of God’s resources.  Whatever we have belongs to God and the question is, ‘‘are we being good stewards’’?

I have been motivated to write this article by the testimonies that have been given by two doctors who were found and funded by the first lady, Amai Grace Mugabe, from high school through to university.  These two are not the only ones, there are more who are still to come out and tell their story.  The first to tell his story was Dr Stephen Karimu, who is based in Goromonzi.  He is a surgeon and District Medical Officer.

Dr Karimu lost his parents when he was eight years old and the First Lady came to his rescue when he was doing Form 2. Today we are writing about the doctor only because someone chose to care. Someone chose to carry the burden of someone she was not related to.  It was out of love, out of concern for the welfare of others. The second one to give her side of the story is Dr Naomi Tsitsi Tseriwa.  She had lost her mother earlier and was left with her father.  When she was studying her Ordinary level course she lost her father.

Obviously she was devastated but as fortune would have it, the First Lady again came to her rescue through out to university.  As I write this article, she is a practising junior doctor at Harare Central Hospital. She always wanted to do medicine and now she is living her dream as a result of someone’s kindness and generosity.

There are some out there who may say ‘‘aahits’’ because she is exposed to a lot of resources being the First Lady, but I don’t think that’s true.  Like I wrote earlier we have people with vast resources in our city but none has bothered to spend them on struggling individuals.  How many people are suffering today and yet their suffering would be alleviated by the intervention of those who are resourced?  There are kids with great talent who watched their dreams fade away just because they had no one to help them realise it.

Some are gifted academically but the lack of resources has hindered them from progressing while those who have them have been busy splashing them around like there is no tomorrow.  I opened this article with a scripture which talks about a true story where Jesus angrily cursed a fig tree after he found no fruit on it when he was hungry.

From a distance the fig tree looked good and promising and it was time for its fruit, but to Jesus’ surprise there was nothing.  He couldn’t stomach such deception and cursed it and it immediately withered to the roots.  God has put us in this world to produce fruit, to positively influence other people’s lives and the moment we fail to realise this then we have a big problem with the Creator.

God will not watch us waste away resources and accumulate many years of life without fruit to show for it.  Just as Jesus cursed the fig tree, we risk facing the same wrath of God.  The work that the First Lady has done has to be applauded and I am so grateful to her. She has established a home in Mazowe, a school and many other facilities for people she is not related to.  When you remember those who are suffering, you touch God’s heart. No wonder the First Lady is being promoted.  She came into President Mugabe’s life after he lost his first wife, Sally, but look at what she has already achieved.  Blessed is the hand that giveth.

Amai Mugabe, thank you for the work you are doing. May it be well with you!  I pray that the favour of God rest upon you and your whole family.  Even as you assume your new role in politics, let your trust be in the Lord and He will surely sustain you through and through. You are blessed!!!!

Shame Isaki is a socio-political commentator, business consultant and preacher.  For feedback call 020-68818, 0773 018 662, e-mail: [email protected].