Makomborero Mutimukulu in Gweru

First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe says she does not go to bed without telling her husband and best friend how grateful she is to have him by her side. Speaking at the Midlands Children’s Home where she handed over a consignment of goods to seven children’s homes here yesterday, the First Lady credited President Mugabe for moulding her into the woman she is today.

“I was very young when I started living with President Mugabe, but he was patient with me and took time to groom me into the woman that I am now. Some of you see me doing all this charity work and reckon that it is all my thinking and doing, but that is not the case,” she said.

“VaMugabe is very supportive of women because he knows kuti musha mukadzi (a woman makes a home). He supports me in everything I do unlike other men who do not encourage their wives’ entrepreneurial skills because they always want to feel superior by being the breadwinners and having women ask them for money every time.

“Every day, I make it a point to thank VaMugabe for making me the First Lady of Zimbabwe. There are a lot of beautiful women in Zimbabwe, but he chose me, a village girl, and made me his wife.

“After I got into State House, I said to God, ‘Father I did not grow up in a fancy house, but I want to make sure that I provide such facilities to children who have been orphaned.’ That is when I told the President about my dream to set up a children’s home and he has been very supportive from day one.”

Amai Mugabe disclosed that one of President Mugabe’s strengths was his calmness.

“He has the ability to remain calm even when everything appears to be going wrong. I believe that calmness is divine because my husband is very religious.

“He prays the Catholic way and always moves with his rosary in his pocket . . . even when he changes clothes he makes sure that rosary is in his pocket.

“It is something he was taught by his mother and he still practices it up to this day. His mother taught him that protection comes from God and that is the reason why he always takes principled and God-fearing positions even when everyone is on the other side.”

Amai Mugabe added that she is striving to groom her sons into “fine gentlemen” just like their father.

“They might be members of the family, but my sons cook meals for the family. I have one daughter, so, I realised that the workload of household chores would suffocate me and decided to come up with a plan that sees them cook for the family regularly.

“I must say they are good at it. Making them cook even when the family has helpers is my way of making them appreciate life and prepare them to be husbands who appreciate their wives.

“As women, we teach men almost everything, including how to dress, but it seems we have not done much in teaching them that they can also cook and help with household duties,” said Amai Mugabe to wild applause.

The First Lady, who adopted five toddlers in the province, hailed the political and business leadership in Gweru for sourcing the goods she handed over.

She said charity work is in line with Biblical teachings.

“Some of us are good at praying and talking, but fail to walk the talk. You cannot claim to be Christian when you have the audacity to eat and throw leftovers in the bin when next door to you there is an orphan who is going to bed hungry,” she said.