Delegates attending UNWTO tour Gushungo Dairy Farm

DELEGATES attending the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly in Victoria Falls yesterday toured the Gushungo Dairy Farm in Mazowe to get an appreciation of the work being done by the first family.

Mrs Nisrine Rifai, the wife of UNWTO secretary-general Mr Taleb Rifai, led the delegation, which also toured the Grace Mugabe Children's Home and primary school in the same area.

Speaking after the tour, First Lady Amai Mugabe explained to the delegates how she mooted her philanthropic projects after acquiring a farm under the land reform programme.

"We acquired the farm under the (land) programme and we did that for a good cause," said Amai Mugabe.

"All this area was a bush and we started from scratch, clearing the land up to construction level.

"Many people thought we were crazy and never thought this would be achievable, but now here we are."

Amai Mugabe said the project was her own "small" way of contributing to the Zimbabwean society and called on the corporate sector to play their part in helping the less privileged.

"When I started this project, I knew people would support us and we rely solely on donations," she said.

"Now I am happy people want to be part of this project and are contributing in various ways. Our target is to build a secondary school for the children and community at large as well as a university and I know by the grace of God we will make it."

She said children at her children's home were not for adoption. "I am taking them as my own children and I am going to raise them the same way I do to my blood children and would never give them up for adoption," she said.

"It is a mammoth task to feed them, but I know with the support of well wishers it will be a success.

"Children are a treasure from God and let us always treat them the same way we want to be treated.

"Even in giving clothes and other things, let us not give them second-hand things because we are all equal before God."
Amai Mugabe added: "The circumstances that we found some of the children we house here are very painful.

"Some would have been dumped by their mothers in the communities we live while some are dumped at hospitals and the mothers give nurses fake identification to avoid being traced."

She said she planned to have more than 500 orphans at the orphanage that has 30 houses. Turning to the UNWTO general assembly, Amai Mugabe said Zimbabwe felt honoured to play host to an event of such magnitude.

"We are honoured to host delegates from all corners of the world. It is our hope that you have enjoyed and you will have a memorable stay here. You should be ambassadors of this country and let the world know of the peace that is prevailing in the country and the hospitality that we have."

She said delegates should take advantage of the ongoing general assembly to forge partnerships and relationships.

The guests who included spouses of Government ministers had time to mix and mingle with children at the chidren's home. Mrs Rifai commended Amai Mugabe for taking them through her projects. "We had a lovely and interesting visit. I had never been to a dairy farm like this before and I am excited a lot," she said.