Mnangagwa receives US humanitarian award

FIRST Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa's philanthropic work has been recognised after she was Thursday honoured with a Matter Humanitarian Award from the Matter group president Quenton Marty in the United States.

Through her Angle of Hope Foundation, President Emmerson Mnangagwa's wife has been involved in a lot of charity work and community engagement initiatives to raise awareness around cervical cancer.

Mrs Mnangagwa chose to remain modest while accepting the award, saying she was not into charity work in order to be rewarded for it.

"The recognition is a great encouragement that what I have started with my team is impactful and that we should, with the help of others, continue to do good," said Mnangagwa as she accepted the honour.

"Let us come together and make lives matter; let us come together to make a difference for our people, even if it impacts one life, that still matters."

Her Foundation was established in February this year with aims to support marginalised women and children through different interventions.

"On welfare, we have started joint ventures to equip women with different skills in order for them to be self-sustainable economically," she said.

"Our country has been experiencing hardships over the years due to socio-economic decline, therefore we need to go on without waiting for government.

"This is the reason you see me go to different places around the country with the hope to eradicate poverty and have access to go health care for all."

She added, "It is my dream that I will be able to find sustainable ways to assist those who touch my heart."

Mnangagwa, who was this year asked by her husband to surrender her Chirumhanzu seat as MP in order to concentrate on charity, also said her work will not have been possible if donors and other well-wishers did not come on board.

"Our journey with Matter begun early this year when the team came to equip Lukosi Hospital in Hwange and established a nutrition plot where fruits and vegetables are grown organically and will be provided to the hospital with excess being sold," she said.

"Matter has also done amazing job for the Victoria Falls Hospital which is now equipped with modern bedding for private hospital standards."

She also said she will soon establish a new maternity hospital in Harare with focus on the nutrition in partnership with Matter.

Matter is a Minnesota based global health non-profit organisation on a mission to expand access to health around the world by giving hospitals the tools they need to care for the sick and injured in dignified ways and designing solutions to create diversified and resilient farms.