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able to be masters of their own destiny, Malawi President Joyce Banda has said. President Banda said the projects demonstrated economic prowess and that Zimbabwe could stand on its own when it comes to business issues.
She made the remarks yesterday after touring the Gushungo Diary Estate and the Grace Mugabe Children’s Home in Mazowe to get an appreciation of the work the First Family is doing.
She also toured the Amai Mugabe Junior School that was opened in January this year at the children’s home.
President Banda and her delegation were accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made.
President Mugabe and First Lady Amai Mugabe were at hand to welcome the delegation to the family’s estate.
“Yesterday (Wednesday) I visited the (Boka) tobacco auction floor, but today I have visited a larger outfit, a private entity where jobs are being created. I have seen a totally run Zimbabwe factory,” President Banda said.
“Throughout my adulthood I have been running a lot, including mobilising underprivileged children, but what I saw today makes me feel small and I am impressed by what the First Family has done to reach out to the masses. Perhaps people out there do not know that this is what the First Lady is doing here.”
President Banda commended the First Family for serving the underprivileged and for their contribution to the growth of the country’s economy. She said the projects created employment for hundreds of people.
“If you get an opportunity to make money, make sure that you use that money for good and that is what the First Family is doing,” said President Banda.
“For Africa to prosper, it means putting the money into households, particularly the poor ones. Once God has blessed us, we have a moral obligation to help underprivileged people.”
President Banda said Zimbabweans and Malawians should work together in all aspects of life.
“The reason why I accepted this invitation from President Mugabe is because we want to look at how our ordinary people can work together,” she said. “But the relationship between two people can only flourish when leadership is talking to each other.
“During the recent Comesa summit in Uganda, President Mugabe gave an interesting speech when he talked about what Africa needs to do to prosper, with particular focus on women.
“With that in mind, I have asked a delegation to come and see the improved type of barns small farmers are building and I have also invited the First Lady to send a representative to see what the Joyce Banda Foundation is doing. It is these exchanges all the time that make Africa move and I believe this is Africa’s moment.”
Amai Mugabe chronicled how here philanthropic projects began since 2007.
“I was touched by the increasing number of children on the streets and as a mother I decided to stand up and contribute, in a small way I could,” she said.
“I would not say I did this single handedly because it has not been easy to build all this, but where there is a will there is a way. I have put up something for disadvantaged children who had no hope at all.”
Amai Mugabe urged mothers to teach children family valuables for them to become responsible citizens.
“Emphasise that they should be educated first before anything else,” she said. “Let us teach our children the importance of life.
“I have 49 children who were abandoned, but we have given them a second chance because I believe they should have a sense of belonging.”
President Banda, who has been in Zimbabwe since Tuesday on a five-day State visit, will today officially open the 54th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.
Online Reporter