A day out with Dr Grace Mugabe

"Come on, come on . . . oh how could he miss that one?" said the engrossed First Lady, Dr Grace Mugabe, as she cheered wheelchair basketball players from the courtside.

At times she got off her seat, clapping passionately as she urged on 26-year-old double-leg amputee Simba Mukuwiri, who demonstrated breath-taking breaststroke swimming skills.

The First Lady was at Danhiko in Harare yesterday where she spent the whole day with the disabled as she continued with her philanthropic work.

Every year she attends the Danhiko Paralympic Games, in addition to her every day work with orphans at her children's home in Mazowe.

Dr Mugabe is the patron of the annual Danhiko Paralympic Games, and yesterday she donated 1,2 tonnes of beef and 700 tonnes of mealie-meal towards the success of the games.

As always when around the people she cares about so much, she was in a jovial mood, exhibiting the motherly touch that has become synonymous with her public work.

Chants of "Amai, Amai" were deafening each time her entourage moved from one sporting competition to the next.

She mingled effortlessly with the less-privileged, cracked jokes, stopped to give a kiss to a young boy in a wheelchair and listened attentively to the elderly.

The red carpet had been rolled out. But Dr Mugabe, one of the most powerful women in the country, was in no mood for royal treatment.

She often left the carpet as she went to embrace a young girl, give a motherly kiss or just stop for a chat.

"Nhasi izuva redu rekufara. Hamusi kufara here? Ah nhai. Inga umwe akati both a smile and a frown is possible, but let us all smile. Ngatiitei smile takatarisana tese," said Dr Mugabe amid ululations and thunderous clapping.

She also displayed her singing skills, beginning her official speech with a melodious gospel song that touched hearts and souls.

"Ngarirumbidzwee, ngarirumbidzwe, ngarirumbidzwe zita raShe," sang the First Lady.

Apart from her hearty messages, her sense of humour kept the gathering.

Her message after that song was fittingly inspirational.

"Zvekuti umwe ane mutezo wakasiyana newangu, kana kuti usina kuita sevamwe, usingakwanise kuzvibatsira, kana kunzwa kana kuona, kana kufamba. . . tese takangofanana nekuti tese tikashaiswa mweya wekufema iwowo tese tinofizuka kana kufa.

"Ndinogara ndichiti kune vanhu paunomukira pese zvitarise pagirazi. Kana uchine maziso ako ese akakwakana, vhudzi rako richiri kubuda zvakanaka, tenda Mwari nekuti chakakosha hupenyu," she said.

And at the basketball court she showcased her motivational skills as she urged players on.

She also watched wheelchair tennis, table tennis and swimming, clapping and cheering along with the crowd, standing and saluting a moment of brilliance.

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Andrew Langa, who sat beside the First Lady courtside at basketball, also caught on and looked to be enjoying himself.

Dr Mugabe was in no mood to leave early and expressed fear that the promising rains would disrupt the carnival atmosphere.

She was still around by the time popular dendera musician Sulumani Chimbetu got on stage, nodding to some of the tunes.

And Dr Mugabe was evidently touched when Sulu belted one of his late father's timeless tunes "Pane Asipo" - a song in which Simon Chimbetu talks about the nation's departed liberation war heroes.

Being one of the most popular prophets in town, Prophet Walter Magaya did not escape the First Lady's attention as she honoured companies and individuals who had contributed to the games' success.

"Pane vanonzi VaMagaya vatipa two boxes of tomatoes. Handizive kuti ndivo Prophet Magaya here, but all the same, VaMagaya vanotipa munamato wekuti tisarwisane mumastreet.

"He will pray kuti tisarwisane munyika medu," she said amid a rousing round of applause.

And the ever-energetic Mbare Chimurenga Choir could only do what they know best, belting out songs that got people dancing, including the popular "NdiMai Vane Rudo" - which acknowledges the First Lady's work.

On the sports themselves, Dr Mugabe was dismayed by the low recognition given paralympic games.

"I am unhappy that athletes with disabilities seem to get little recognition from the media, the corporate world and the public. I am, however, encouraged by the stance taken by the African Union Region 5 Body which has committed itself to channelling more resources to sports for people with disabilities and women in sport.

"This is after a realisation over the years that despite the poor funding of these two groups, they have continued to excel and bring glory to the region while their better funded fellow sports-persons have continued to falter."