News / National
Grace Mugabe bemoans rise in baby dumping
09 May 2014 at 06:17hrs | Views
The habit of dumping children in the streets is on the rise because of moral decadence in the society and the collapse of the extended family unit, First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe has said.
Speaking after receiving foodstuffs worth thousands of dollars donated to her children's home in Mazowe by Mazowe West legislator Ray Kazembe and his wife Pauline, the First Lady said it was the duty of every citizen to take care of orphans in their communities.
"Extended families now do not want to take care of their relatives' children so the rate at which babies are being dumped has also increased.
"I am trying to do charity in a different way for the love of God and not for people to see. That is why I put up a pre-cast wall here. When I do this work, I do it on behalf of everyone because we are equal in the image of God," she said.
Amai Mugabe thanked the Kazembes for their donation urging Zimbabweans to work together in assisting the less privileged in their societies.
She said she would soon embark on projects that would generate funds for the children's home.
Kazembe urged the business community to emulate the First Lady in providing care for the orphans.
"When I toured this place with ministers and other legislators, I was touched after seeing the children. I felt I had to assist her in carrying out her charity work by providing some foodstuffs for the children's home.
"It is emotional when you see these children calling her (First Lady) Amai and how happy they are around her. They even call her son (Robert) brother, showing the kind of love Amai Mugabe shows these children," he said.
MP Kazembe urged Zimbabweans and the corporate sector to assist the less privileged children in their different societies as they are the future leaders.
"If we go out there in each province and help the less privileged children, it makes our country a better place to live in," he said.
The children's home has 74 children, six of whom were temporarily brought in by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, while their mothers serve their jail terms.
The First Lady also took the couple on a tour of the Amai Mugabe Junior School.
Zimbabwe Youth Development Trust and CSR also donated clothes and toys to the children's home.
Speaking after receiving foodstuffs worth thousands of dollars donated to her children's home in Mazowe by Mazowe West legislator Ray Kazembe and his wife Pauline, the First Lady said it was the duty of every citizen to take care of orphans in their communities.
"Extended families now do not want to take care of their relatives' children so the rate at which babies are being dumped has also increased.
"I am trying to do charity in a different way for the love of God and not for people to see. That is why I put up a pre-cast wall here. When I do this work, I do it on behalf of everyone because we are equal in the image of God," she said.
Amai Mugabe thanked the Kazembes for their donation urging Zimbabweans to work together in assisting the less privileged in their societies.
She said she would soon embark on projects that would generate funds for the children's home.
Kazembe urged the business community to emulate the First Lady in providing care for the orphans.
"When I toured this place with ministers and other legislators, I was touched after seeing the children. I felt I had to assist her in carrying out her charity work by providing some foodstuffs for the children's home.
"It is emotional when you see these children calling her (First Lady) Amai and how happy they are around her. They even call her son (Robert) brother, showing the kind of love Amai Mugabe shows these children," he said.
MP Kazembe urged Zimbabweans and the corporate sector to assist the less privileged children in their different societies as they are the future leaders.
"If we go out there in each province and help the less privileged children, it makes our country a better place to live in," he said.
The children's home has 74 children, six of whom were temporarily brought in by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, while their mothers serve their jail terms.
The First Lady also took the couple on a tour of the Amai Mugabe Junior School.
Zimbabwe Youth Development Trust and CSR also donated clothes and toys to the children's home.
Source - The Herald
