adminPatrick Chitumba in Mazowe
SPOUSES of delegates attending the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly in Victoria Falls yesterday visited Amai Mugabe School and Children’s Home and Gushungo Dairy Farm in Mazowe.The delegation of about 50 was led by the wife of UNWTO secretary-general, Mr Taleb Rifai, Mrs Nisrine Rifai and Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Engineer Walter Mzembi’s wife, Mrs Barbara Mzembi.
The delegation flew from Victoria Falls in an Air Zimbabwe plane to Harare and first toured the National Heroes’ Acre where it was briefed about the country’s liberation struggle and national heroes buried at the shrine.
The delegation then proceeded to Mazowe.
Addressing the delegation at the Children’s Home, the First Lady Umama Grace Mugabe said the co-hosting of the UNWTO general assembly by Zimbabwe and Zambia was a great achievement that will enhance economic partnership between the two countries.
She urged the delegates to be ambassadors of Zimbabwe and Zambia when they return to their respective countries.
“Hosting the general assembly is a great achievement that will enhance the two countries’ economic partnership that will in turn boost economic growth.
“We welcome you to stay and come back after the conference. Zimbabweans are very hospitable people and we want you to be our ambassadors.
“Tell the world about the prevailing peace and tranquility that you are experiencing yourselves and not the falsehoods being peddled by some sections of the media,” said Umama Mugabe.
She said Zimbabwe had a lot to offer in terms of investment because of its abundant minerals as well as its rich flora and fauna.
“I hope that you visited our wildlife areas because we have a lot of game. We are also endowed with a lot of minerals like coal, platinum, gold and diamonds. Some people are convinced that we will one day discover oil,” said the First Lady.
Turning to the children’s home, she said the project came out of the realisation that there was a need to help the less priviledged children in society.
She said she visited one of the country’s hospitals in 2010 and was touched by the plight of children dumped by their mothers.
“This project started with the groundbreaking ceremony in 2007 and some people said I was crazy but I reminded them that Rome was not built in one day. Initially I wanted 75 houses but we later decided to start with the 30 houses that you see.
“Each house has five bedrooms which I designed myself and can accommodate up to 30 children.
“ I am here to give the best to these children. I want to raise them the same way I raise my own and I will never give them up for adoption,” she said.
The school offers primary education and has 55 disadvantaged children made up of 29 boys and 26 girls.
Umama Mugabe said plans were under way to increase the enrolment to 500 and also construct a secondary school and a university.
The delegates also toured Gushungo Holdings’ Alpha and Omega Dairy Farm also in Mazowe.
Online Reporter