Tendai Rupapa in CHEGUTU

THOUSANDS of widows in Mashonaland West province received a heart-warming New Year’s gift as the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, descended upon their community with a bounty of resources and empowerment opportunities through her First Lady’s Widows Association.

In a display of her unwavering commitment to uplifting vulnerable women, the First Lady distributed a sizable consignment of goods, goats and vital inputs to ignite their entrepreneurial spirits in farming and business and kick-start their journey towards self-sufficiency, as Dr Mnangagwa forges ahead with her multi-pronged empowerment programmes.

The goods that were given to the women from all districts to start their own shops included flour, cooking oil, sugar beans, drinks, bottled water, snacks, instant noodles, breakfast cereal, vending carts, goats and farming inputs.

The mother of the nation, who is patron of the First Lady’s Widows Association, requested the beneficiaries to form committees of five people led by a focal person per district for easy implementation and evaluation of projects.

If put to good use, the starter packs will place beneficiaries on a pedestal to success.

The First Lady’s gesture dovetailed with her association’s vision to foster a society where widows in Zimbabwe are empowered, self-reliant and actively engaged in shaping their own destinies.

It has a mission to promote financial independence and provide empowerment training opportunities for widows through schemes and programmes that assure greater self-esteem and ease of socio-economic integration.

Yesterday, Amai Mnangagwa interacted with the widows at Pfupajena Stadium and the initiative will be cascaded to all provinces countrywide to promote hard work and ensure widows sustain themselves and their families.

In the spirit of not leaving anyone behind, Dr Mnangagwa said she would also rope in widowers into the association.

The programme also seeks to restore the dignity of widows, who were previously accused of engaging in promiscuity to make ends meet following the death of breadwinners.

The initiative, which coincided with the national clean-up campaign, which is observed every first Friday of the month, started with a clean-up around Pfupajena Stadium and nearby communities, where the First Lady
led in the clearing of garbage, alongside Government officials and members of communities.

Dr Mnangagwa, who is also the country’s patron of the environment, led a tree planting session inside the stadium, where various trees were planted.

She donated 200 trees to the communities for onward planting in other districts.

The mother of the nation toured exhibitions of products made by widows through her initiative.

On display was a range of products made from beekeeping, farming, rabbit and poultry farming, weaving, knitting, crocheting, sewing, crafting, beading, peanut butter making, detergents making, juice making, recycling and pottery.

To inspire the beneficiaries, Dr Mnangagwa had a panel of speakers to motivate the widows. They included pioneer beneficiaries of her Zimbabwe Open University and Angel of Hope Foundation partnership from Epworth.

Evangelist Nelly Gwatidzo and Chaplain Christine Phiri from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service were part of the panel.

Addressing the gathering, Amai Mnangagwa praised God for ushering the nation into 2024.

She emphasised the need for widows to be self-sufficient and to lead exemplary lives.

“We thank God for ushering us into 2024, which means we are new from last year. Even our ways of thinking have changed. Today, we have come to discuss the First Lady’s Widows Association and what it involves. I am leaving no one behind; therefore, I requested widowers to be part of the association so they can also work for their families. I want to work with dignified women with financial discipline,” she said.

Dr Mnangagwa denounced those who steal, saying stealing retards progress.

“We say no to those who steal when working in groups. We want people who are trustworthy. I reject people who earn bad names in communities because of snatching other people’s spouses for survival. Are we able to teach our children good morals, vanaamai? As a mother, you must be dignified so that you are able to train your children,” she said.

The First Lady spoke about the value of maintaining good hygiene to keep diseases at bay.

“Women, you must practise good hygiene all the time and that is the reason why today we cleaned the environment. Cholera iriko madzimai uye Covid-19 zvekare ichiriko, naizvozvo let us follow zvatinodzidziswa nevebazi rezvehutano. Let us also plant trees where we live, vanamai ngatisimei fruit trees pamisha yedu,” she said.

Against the backdrop of climate change, the mother of the nation urged people to refrain from cutting down trees. She outlined the benefits that can be derived from them.

She said the association, which was launched in Mashonaland West province, will cascade to all provinces.

“It is my wish to later hold a conference for widows where we will all converge to map the way forward. I have also brought farming inputs for you so that we can farm and be able to look after our children. I want all our districts in this province to form committees of five, plus a focal person,” she said as she supervised the nomination and selection of committee members.

The committees will work with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development; and the Minister of State, who would then report to the First Lady on progress.

Among the speakers who were at hand to inspire widows was Gogo Emaculate Zinhumwe (72) from Epworth, who has realised success through the First Lady’s programmes.

Her gestures and hard talk triggered laughter among the guests.

“I hail from Epworth and I received grace from our mother. I was among those who were remembered by our mother, the First Lady, who uplifted me from the ashes. These are certificates that I have brought with me here. I initially ended education in Standard Six, but our mother sent me to school where I learnt with those who completed Form Six and today, I have my assets to show for this. Mhamha, I equate you to the biblical Dorcas. She was raised from the dead because she assisted the poor. May God grant you more time on earth because you have so much work to do,” she said to applause.

“I did agriculture through the ZOU and Angel of Hope Foundation partnership. I then planted trees in my yard, so you can come and enjoy fruits because I followed what I was taught. I then did counselling and I am an elder at RCZ (Reformed Church in Zimbabwe) and I assist in counselling the youths. I urge them to use their hands so that they can be able to realise income to look after themselves and shun drugs,” she said.

Gogo Zinhumwe, who now owns a school, further shared her story.

“I then acquired a certificate in Early Childhood Development (ECD) and I now have 12 teachers as I stand before you right now. The English I did in Standard Six and my mingling with those who completed university studies is what I will be using to get by.

“I now own a school.

“ I was taught never to sit on my hands. At my house in Epworth, I have 25 pigs. I rear goats and chickens such that when children ask me which hen to slaughter, I just say pick any. I do not beg my husband for permission to slaughter a chicken. I am glad that there are widows here. You do not have to ask anyone to do a project.

“A clever widow follows proverbs 31 verse 31, which talks about a virtuous woman who rises early and sleeps late. I compete with the educated in my family, thanks to our mother. I encourage you women to work hard so that we make our own money. Let us use our hands,” said Gogo Zinhumwe.

Similar words were echoed by Mrs Sevelyne Kemusi.

“I benefitted from the partnership between Angel of Hope Foundation and ZOU. I cannot thank you fully for the education you gave me, Amai. To be who I am today, it is because of our mother. To stand before you today, it is because of our mother. I did an ECD course and graduated in 2021 at Epworth Local Board. I then opened my ECD centre, where I started off with five children, including two of my own. At the end of 2022, I had 30 learners. After a year, I had 95 children,” she said.

Mrs Kemusi is also offering free education to underprivileged children in her community.

“I discovered that it was improper to operate an unregistered institution and as we speak, I have managed to register my ECD centre with the Ministry of Education. As I speak before you, I now have many learners. Ndatove businesswoman. Through assisting me free of charge, Mhamha, I saw it fit at my school to find orphans and children from underprivileged backgrounds so that I teach them free of charge. Every woman here can succeed if she perseveres. Let us rally behind our mother because with her, we will reach far and wide,” she said.

Chaplain Phiri hammered on the need for widows to use their hands productively at all times.

“My beloved, I was sent by our mother to tell widows that the one who died was your husband but not God. Say amen to shame the devil. God loves all of us, vatipa mai vedu vane rudo. Secondly, when the man died, he did not go with your hands. So, if the hands were left, use them to work,” she said before bursting into the song “Shanda”.

A charismatic speaker, Chaplain Phiri continued: “Do not sit on those hands. The First Lady sent me to tell widows, as a widow also who lost her husband at 21 years of age, that after crying, we wipe tears and think of the future. There is time to sleep and one to arise and work. Do you know that there are things that people expect from a widow, isn’t it so? When widowed, you are accused of being a witch, isn’t it so? When widowed, you are accused of being a husband snatcher, isn’t it so? Our mother is urging us to move forward. Even when branded a witch or prostitute when it is not what I am doing, I do not care,” she said before bursting into the song “Hameno ikoko”.

Evangelist Gwatidzo said there was no benefit for widows to continue in the mode of mourning over their lost spouses.

“I want to talk about a widow and her child. Our mother is saying the time of mourning is over and it is time to work for your children using your hands. Sitting on your hands is a disease. Amai is also saying a mother must teach and counsel her children to grow in the correct path. We say no to mothers who, when the child misbehaves, they start thinking that if their husbands were alive that would not be the case. What are you doing to raise the children properly because you are the one now responsible,” she said.

Widows who benefitted from the programme thanked the First Lady for her benevolence.

They were grateful to Amai Mnangagwa for spearheading various income-generating projects for them.

Mrs Sinikiwe Mangena, who loves making clothes and handbags, said the First Lady’s programme had come at the ideal time.

“Our mother is well-meaning and has been giving everyone a platform to excel. I love making clothes and bags and I am surely set to scale dizzy heights through our First Lady’s intervention. She is our mother and has big programmes for us to succeed,” she said.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Mrs Phoebe Charuza, who keeps chickens and rabbits.

“We are reaping gold from what the First Lady is doing for us. She is teaching us to use our own hands, which will set a good example for our children. As widows, we shall never be looked down upon because of our mother’s love,” she said. – Sunday Mail