Zimbabwe First Lady Says 'Don't Abandon Disabled Children'

The patron of the Danhiko Annual Paralympic Games, Amai Grace Mugabe, is joined on the dance floor by Mrs Daisy Mtukudzi (right) and Ms Susan Jaison at Danhiko in Harare yesterday — Picture: Believe Nyakudjara, a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Don’t abandon disabled children: First Lady

Sunday, 07 October 2012 00:20
Zimbabwe Sunday Mail

First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe has called on leading personalities to take a stand and play a part in the upkeep of orphans.

In her address at the official open­ing of the 24th edition of the Danhiko Paralympic Games in Harare yester­day, Amai Mugabe said the responsi­bility of taking care of orphans should not be left to orphanages alone.

She noted that orphanages could not survive without the assistance of the corporate world and some of the country’s most illustrious citizens.

“At my orphanage, I am waiting for Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa to come and adopt a child who looks like him,” she said to thunderous applause.

“I know that it has been reported that we named the child after Makandiwa, but that is not true.

“We just call her Makandiwa because she looks like him; her real name is Princess.

“Anyway, I know that the prophet will come and adopt her because he once came to the orphanage and donated blankets and food.”

The First Lady revealed that there were a number of children who resembled popular figures at her Amai Grace Mugabe Orphanage in Mazowe.

“Each time a child comes under my care at the orphanage, I am always on the lookout for any resemblance in them with an influential person in our society.

“Apart from Princess, who looks like Prophet Makandiwa, we have had the lookalikes of Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Minister Nicholas Go-che and Governor Gideon Gono.

“So I appeal to all the influential people like those I have mentioned to come and assist financially and ikind,” she said.

Amai Mugabe castigated men who abandoned their wives after they have given birth to disabled children, say­ing that every child is a gift from God.

“Every child, whether able-bodied or disabled, is a gift from God, so par­ents, especially fathers, of disabled children should desist from running away from the responsibility of taking care of these precious children. Some­times the man blames the wife when a disabled child is born, but then it takes two to tango when you make a child.

“There is no point in pointing fin­gers at each other, blaming the other for the child’s disability,” she said.

The event was also attended by the Minister of Youth Development, Indi­genisation and Empowerment, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere; the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises Devel­opment, Cde Sithembiso Nyoni; and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor, Dr Gideon Gono.
Entertainment was provided by music superstar Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi, den­dera protégé Sulumani Chimbetu and former Big Brother housemate Roki.

The first edition of the Danhiko Paralympic Games was held in 1988 and the event continues to grow with each passing year.