First Lady Grace Mugabe turns 47

The First Lady, Amai Grace Mugabe celebrated her 47th birthday with a low key event at her children’s home in Mazowe this Monday.

Staff from the nearby Gushungo Dairy Estate and the Zimbabwe U-13 soccer team under the tutelage of famous ex-Warriors skipper, Peter Ndlovu, were also among the guests.

In her address at the occasion, Amai Mugabe told the guests that the establishment of the children’s home, which currently is home to 28 previously abandoned children, was not easy and how she conceived the idea after coming face to face with the plight of Zimbabwe’s street children.

The First Lady explained some of the trials and tribulations she encountered in the realisation of the project and how the initial partner in it pulled out before completion, living her struggling for funding.

Amai Mugabe said most of the children brought into the home are identified from hospitals throughout the country. Recently, five more children, one barely four weeks old, were brought into the home, bringing the figure to 28.

Amai Mugabe stressed the need for the children to be given quality care and education through the building of a double storey state of the art school which is nearly complete. Meanwhile, several local businesses and well wishers have donated gifts and goodies to the children’s home.

A private businessman, Mr Katuruza and his wife donated stationary for home and school as well as 30 cotbeds for the children, while another businessman, Mr Yen , a Chinese national, donated groceries.

Mr and Mrs Hakunavanhu donated groceries and fish while Mr and Mrs Chifamba gave the home paediatric pharmaceuticals. Mr McDonald Chapfika pledged 4 beasts for the home while the Gushungo Dairy staff came up with two cattle, 10 sheep and 10 goats.

Speaker after speaker spoke highly of Amai Mugabe’s works of charity and her good relationship with the employees. The U-13 soccer team presented the First Lady with a T-shirt that was autographed by all the boys who were recently in Holland for a soccer tournament.

Towards the end of the proceedings, Amai Mugabe presented the team with designer sports shoes. ZBC

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