First Lady a socio-economic prime mover: Dr Mushohwe
ZIMBABWE is privileged to have Dr Grace Mugabe as its First Lady as the country has realised a lot of socio-economic transformation as a result of her philanthropic work and entrepreneurial astuteness, a Cabinet Minister said on Thursday.
In an interview with Sunday News, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe said the First Lady was a progressive prime mover whose work speaks to the good and big heart she was endowed with.
He was speaking in an interview on the occasion to mark the First Lady’s 52nd birthday. Dr Mugabe who was born on 23 July 1965 is celebrating her birthday today.
Dr Mushohwe said Dr Mugabe was arguably the best philanthropist he knew in the country adding that he had the privilege of working with her even before his Cabinet appointment.
“She is actually one of the biggest philanthropists in the country. You need to be in Mazowe to appreciate the amount of work that she in engaged in. Her charitable work is a genuine show of who she is and of her progressive vision,” said Dr Mushohwe.
He said Dr Mugabe’s charitable heart was not a result of her bountiful life but was in fact a genuine testimony of her love for the under-privileged and the downtrodden of the society.
“She has undoubtedly distinguished herself as a woman of substance with an unwavering and unequalled charitable disposition coupled with a tangible and visibly irrefutable influence in both her philanthropic work and her political life,” said Dr Mushohwe.
He added although she had been an easy victim of bad Press, both local and international, she was determined to achieve her goals of improving the livelihoods of the people of Zimbabwe, something she shared with her husband President Mugabe.
“She has not so much expended her energies on correcting the fallacies that have been created about her by the media, something that goes to show how humble she is.
“In fact, above the veneer of sensational headlines is an intelligent woman of substance, a woman of meaning whose connection with the goings on in the
country’s grassroots and downtrodden cannot be doubted, a passionate and caring mother.
“A mother to her own children and to the country’s orphaned children with a highly innovative businessmind, Dr Mugabe is a rare philanthropic mother of the nation whose work is a marvel to anyone who wishes to care,” said Dr Mushohwe.
He added that the First Lady was a real national mother who welcomed all people irrespective of how sordid their background was, something he said was rare.
“She rehabilitated a team of prostitutes in Marondera and set up projects for them. They have now left prostitution and are now concentrating on their projects and contributing meaningfully to the national development discourse,” said Dr Mushohwe of the First Lady.
He said Dr Mugabe was a straightforward, frank, honest, firm and consistent person who does not waver in what she believes is right. She hates deception, backbiting and gossiping but quickly forgives.
“She is frank and does not call a spade a shovel. She calls a spade a spade. She is truthful and despises people who gossip and those who are not genuine. She, however, does not keep grudges. She is quick to forgive.
“I know of certain politicians whom she told her mind frankly and after that she was laughing with them. Most people dread her for that but I tell you she is one person who is good to work with.
“Her candidness makes her tough in politics. She grasped the political concepts with so much ease, something that goes to show her political astuteness and intelligence. She stands for what she believes is right,” Dr Mushohwe added.
He said Dr Mugabe is a woman of action who dedicated her life to addressing issues of the downtrodden and to disassemble and restructure the racially tilted system that perpetuated black suffering.
He said the Alpha Omega dairy project where there were more than 2 500 dairy cows was proof of her entrepreneurial skills and that she designed the Mazowe orphanage herself and played an instrumental role in designing the First Family’s house in Borrowdale commonly known as the Blue Roof, which is something that shows the kind of person she is architecturally.
“Let me take this opportunity to wish her a happy birthday on behalf of my family. We pray that God continues to bless her with good health, divine wisdom, abundant love, success in all her future endeavours, but above all, a blessed long life. We say to her, Congratulations, Makorokoto, Amhlophe. We love you,” said Dr Mushohwe.