The Sunday Mail
Advocate Martin Dinha
Mashonaland Central is blessed to host First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe’s projects.
With Amai Mugabe as the driving force, the First Family has made significant investments that have changed the face of this province.
Since 1980, no one has invested in Mashonaland Central as much as Amai Mugabe has.
When the First Family was allocated a farm in Mazowe, it was just an ordinary property. The farm was vandalised and had nothing to write home about.
However, the First Family turned it into a dairy hub that has changed the lives of thousands of people.
In the past, dairy farming was the preserve of white people, but through Gushungo Dairies, the farm is a world-class milk production centre. Foreign visitors can testify that Gushungo Dairies is indeed a world-class project.
The province has benefited a lot from this project. It has turned into an agro-processing industry that sustains many families in line with the Value-Addition and Beneficiation Cluster of Zim-Asset.
Amai Mugabe is hardworking and never stops aspiring to achieve more.
Amai Grace Mugabe Children’s Home shows that she is a trailblazer. She came up with the idea of not establishing an orphanage, but an innovative children’s home with modern standards of giving to the underprivileged.
At the ground-breaking ceremony, some 10 or so years ago, there was nothing to write home about. It was just like any other bushy area, filled with acacia trees.
But only a couple of years later, the area was transformed into an eye-catching state-of-the-art institution.
It has transformed the small township of Mazowe into the talk of the whole country.
After building the children’s home, Amai Mugabe did not rest, but invested heavily in education by building Grace Mugabe Primary School and the Senior School.
She is, no doubt, inspired by President Mugabe who values education.
Education is the biggest weapon against poverty and the foundation for any success. So, she has created a sound platform for these children; from which they can do great things for themselves and the country.
We believe it is no coincidence that the area where the children’s home is situated is the same area where Mbuya Nehanda lived.
At times, when we see the First Lady and the great things she has done, we are left pondering . . .
She has a vision to do things that many of us never imagined possible in this small township of Mazowe. Mashonaland Central is fortunate.
We know other provinces would have wanted to have someone like her.
As the provincial leadership, we have no regret over our decision to give her more land for her projects. She has laid out her plans to build a state-of-the-art hospital.
She is also building a university in honour of President Mugabe.
Amai Mugabe is driving these projects out of her willpower, using her resources and time, fervently looking for investors on her own.
Yet, these projects are not for her own benefit. They are going to benefit people in the province. What more can you ask for from an individual?
Because of her passion for development, the Mashonaland Central Provincial Lands Committee asked her to help in resuscitating Manzou Game Park, an area which is a national heritage, but which has failed to realise its potential for a long time.
We asked her to find partners and financiers so that this place, which has Mbuya Nehanda’s legacy, takes its place as a national heritage site and a tourist attraction.
We selected her because, as I have said before, there is no single individual in the province who has contributed to development more than she has.
In my interactions with her, I have learnt to understand that she abhors factionalism.
It has been very unfortunate that some people have abused her kindness and good name to pursue their own selfish agendas.
There are many detractors who want to denigrate the First Lady. They go to every length to demonise her.
However, they can attack her as much as they want.
They can climb the highest mountain and proclaim all negatives, but they will not take away the fact that the First Lady has done amazing things for the people of Mashonaland Central.
She has exhibited unreserved love for the people and has shown her passion to give and better the lives of others.
I want to wish the First Lady a most graceful birthday and take this opportunity to thank her for the great things she has done to advance the province of Mashonaland Central.
Advocate Martin Dinha is Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Minister. He shared these views with The Sunday Mail’s Chief Reporter Kuda Bwititi last week ahead of the First Lady’s 52nd birthday today
