AMAI Grace Mugabe birthday celebrations held at her Children’s home in Mazowe last week were more than having a good time, but celebrations of life, with the children of Zimbabwe in mind.
Born on July 231965, the First Lady Amai Mugabe celebrated her 49th birthday with a multitude of people, among them local businesspeople and House of Assembly members.
However, the most important guests were children from other children’s homes.
For Amai, the birthday celebrations presented her with an opportunity to make an appeal to a wide audience to assist the children of the country.
Captains of industry were present at the celebrations.
Away from the glamour and glitz of the city, in the mining town of Mazowe, Amai Mugabe appealed not for presents and goodies for herself, but help to assist more children.
Speaking on the occasion, she expressed her gratitude for the support received over the years from various stakeholders.
July is also a month that she celebrates her achievement of constructing a home for disadvantaged children.
“I remember when we had a ground breaking ceremony, my project partner wanted everything to coincide with my birthday,” said Amai Mugabe.
Despite being the First Lady, she said the construction of the home was not easy with various obstacles faced that included lack of resources.
“When I thought of doing this project I did not have the resources, but I have so much faith in God,” she said.
“I said to myself, there are children in the streets and there are going to be more coming.
“There are children in orphanages and they need to be looked after.
“If I am not going to do something as a mother of the nation, I do not think I will be at peace with my conscience.”
The many presents that were presented were not for the ‘birthday girl’, but her children.
She gave everything the cash and goods to children’s homes.
The chief executive officer of Chitungwiza Hospital, Dr Obidiah Moyo promised that the children from Amai Mugabe’s children’s home will be treated for free at Chitungwiza Hospital, an institution now famous for excellent service.
He said the health institution will avail a doctor to visit the home every month.
Other children’s homes that attended the birthday celebrations include Matthew Rusike and SOS.
Amai Mugabe said she will continue to do her best to look after the children of the nation, describing herself not only as a mother to her biological children, but every child in the country.
“The uniqueness of our home is that in other homes the children can be given up for adoption, but in this home, my children are mine, they are not to be given up for adoption,” she said.
According to Amai Mugabe, she wants 75 houses to be constructed at the Grace Mugabe Children’s Home, but due to lack of resources, only 30 have been constructed so far and 20 are ready for occupation.
Probably the icing on the cake at the celebrations, the one that delighted the First Lady more than anything, was the presence of two of her children that she helped that are now medical doctors, Steven Karim and Tsitsi Tseriwa.
“I have so many children, but I feel if these children want to talk about what I have done for them, it is really up to them to talk about what I have done for them,” she said.
Amai Mugabe said, resources permitting, she plans to build a secondary school, a university, hospital and a skills training centre.