(Last Updated on October 7, 2012 by TAPIWA MAGUJI)
ZIMBABWE – First Lady Grace Mugabe has named one of the orphans at her Mazowe Children’s Home after popular preacher Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa.
There are other children named after prominent people in the country like politicians and businessmen. The children were given the names as part of drawing inspiration and fundraising to finance the First Lady’s philanthropic projects.
Amai Mugabe told Vice President Joice Mujuru, who was on a familiarisation tour of the home, that the orphan named after the United Family International Church leader was from Mt Darwin. Prophet Makandiwa is famed for preaching of the word and prophetic and healing powers.
“There is a child from Mount Darwin whom we adopted, we thought he would die but he survived,” said Amai Mugabe.
“I gave him the name Makandiwa. I have done the same with other names like Dinha, Kasukuwere. It is one way of raising funds and it is working.”
Cde Martin Dinha is Mashonaland Central Governor and Resident Minister, while Cde Saviour Kasukuwere is the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment.
Amai Mugabe chronicled the journey she travelled in setting up the children’s home. She said she applied for the land which she is now using which at the time was being neglected and underutilised by some whites who were occupying it.
“I came here riri sango. I spoke to the then Governor (Elliot) Manyika. I said I wanted an orphanage. I also got a lot of support from many people like Minister Kasukuwere and Minister Nicholas Goche and I was given this farm,” said Amai Mugabe.
She said the whites who used to be at the farm were not happy to lose it despite the fact that they were neglecting it.
“It was a derelict farm,” she said.
During construction of houses at the home, Amai Mugabe got help from a foreign partner who assisted her with money.
The partner abandoned the project midway when he left the country.
“The President then sought other people who helped me with funding,” said Amai Mugabe.
She said the home would be officially commissioned next year.