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Pamela Shumba Chronicle Reporter
THE wife of the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Constantine Chiwenga, Mrs Mary Mubaiwa-Chiwenga yesterday launched the Musha Mukadzi Zimbabwe Armed Forces Foundation (MM-ZAFF) at One Headquarters Brigade in Bulawayo and Mbalabala School of Infantry. MM-ZAFF was officially launched in Harare last month by the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe with the aim of empowering families of members of the defence forces.
The new foundation replaces the Zimbabwe Army Wives and Women Association (ZAWWA), which was founded by Gen Chiwenga in 1995.
Mrs Mubaiwa-Chiwenga, who is the chairperson of MM-ZAFF, is visiting all army units in the country introducing the organisation to soldiers’ spouses and women soldiers.
Addressing the women at One Headquarters Brigade, Mrs Mubaiwa-Chiwenga said MM-ZAFF was meant to economically empower women through self-help projects.
“For many years President Mugabe has been talking about empowerment and upliftment of women and it is important for women to embrace the empowerment programmes that are availed to them. As women, we can achieve a lot of great things.
“MM-ZAFF is a new organisation that replaces ZAWWA and its objectives are to advocate for sanctification of the individual and the broad family unit in the armed forces. It targets women as they are the pillars of their families,” said Mrs Mubaiwa-Chiwenga.
She said the foundation also sought to alleviate homelessness among the armed forces, retired soldiers and war veterans’ families.
“As MM-ZAFF, we are committed to protecting the armed forces’ families from destitution and help improve access to education as well as creation of employment for armed forces and retirees’ families,” said Mrs Mubaiwa-Chiwenga.
She urged women to know their history and register to vote adding that they should vote for Zanu-PF and President Mugabe in the harmonised elections.
“Let us join forces to be united, to stand guided by our beliefs and stay true to our Zimbabwe. There is no other Zimbabwe that we know.
“I am not a teacher and I am not clever, but I know how the sons and daughters of Zimbabwe suffered and died for us to enjoy the freedom we have today. Let us not take our freedom for granted. Let us go out there and vote for Zanu-PF,” said Mrs Mubaiwa-Chiwenga.
She described President Mugabe as a resilient leader, who was chosen by the nation through the will of God.
The MM-ZAFF spokesperson, Mrs Chido Sanyatwe, who is the wife of the commander of the Presidential Guard, Brigadier- General Anselem Sanyatwe said the foundation was prepared to provide funding for women to start income-generating projects.
She advised them to form small groups and draw their project proposals so that they could receive funding.
Mrs Sanyatwe also urged women to be united against sanctions and tribalism and vote for the country’s revolutionary leaders.
Mrs Mubaiwa-Chiwenga donated food hampers to the women and today she will visit Imbizo Barracks, on the outskirts of Bulawayo.
Online Reporter