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Mnangagwa's wife engages Asian investor in Dubai
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First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, who is currently in the United Arab Emirates for the 7th Edition of the Merck Foundation First Ladies Initiative (MFFLI) Summit, has kickstarted a series of high-level engagements with global leaders and investors, including a significant meeting yesterday with renowned Asian businessman and philanthropist, Mr Prateek Suri, CEO of Maser Group.
Dr Mnangagwa, who is attending the summit as guest of honour, met with Mr Suri on the sidelines of the event to explore potential areas of collaboration between Zimbabwe and the Maser Group in sectors such as education, student accommodation, infrastructure development, mining, and sports. Mr Suri expressed a keen interest in investing in Zimbabwe, citing the country's strategic regional position and the First Lady's proven leadership and development work as key motivators.
The First Lady welcomed the proposals, particularly the idea of establishing a world-class international university in Zimbabwe, with a strong component on sports. She emphasised the importance of providing safe, adequate student accommodation across the country's tertiary institutions, noting that lack of housing often puts young people-especially girls-at risk.
"Provision of accommodation is crucial for our students. If there is no adequate housing, many, especially the girl child, are forced into unsafe living situations which we do not want them exposed to. With secure and independent accommodation, they will be able to study better and succeed," she said.
Dr Mnangagwa also stressed that incorporating sports into higher education would help combat the rise in drug and substance abuse among young people. She described the idea of a university with a sports-driven curriculum as innovative and timely.
"If we establish an international university that accommodates students from various countries, that would be excellent. Incorporating sports into the university will help keep our youth focused, especially as we see growing challenges with drug and substance abuse," she said.
Mr Suri responded positively, stating that his company has experience in large-scale infrastructure projects across Africa and is eager to implement a similar model in Zimbabwe through a public-private partnership with the Government. He noted that the Maser Group's interest spans several areas, including road construction, mining, and artificial intelligence, and that the proposed university project would be a flagship initiative near Harare.
He also revealed that Maser Group is already supplying building materials to several African countries and is prepared to invest in student housing, describing such projects as mutually beneficial to both investors and the nation.
"We have experience with the PPP model and have implemented it across Africa. The Zimbabwean Government is very supportive. The First Lady's warm welcome and confidence in our company will give this partnership the momentum it needs," Mr Suri said.
The meeting was attended by Zimbabwe's Ambassador to the UAE, Mr Lovemore Mazemo, who welcomed the potential investment and highlighted the government's commitment to creating a conducive environment for investors.
The summit, themed "Together We Make a Difference", officially opens today and brings together First Ladies from Africa and Asia to address critical social and health issues. Topics include improving healthcare capacity, tackling infertility stigma, ending child marriages, promoting girls' education, and advancing gender equality.
Dr Mnangagwa, who serves as the Merck Foundation's Ambassador for the "More Than a Mother" initiative, is expected to play a key leadership role at the summit. Her advocacy through the Angel of Hope Foundation has made a transformative impact on Zimbabwe's healthcare, education, and community development sectors.
Through her collaboration with the Merck Foundation, hundreds of Zimbabwean healthcare professionals have received specialist training in areas such as oncology, fertility, diabetes, cardiovascular health, and psychiatry. Many have studied abroad, gaining expertise in critical areas to help build national capacity and improve healthcare outcomes.
Beyond healthcare, Dr Mnangagwa continues to inspire First Ladies across the continent with her community outreach programmes, mobile health initiatives, and championing of traditional values anchored in Ubuntu.
As the summit gets underway, Dr Mnangagwa is expected to share her experiences and offer guidance to newly appointed First Ladies on how to turn their positions into platforms for positive change. Her legacy, already established through the Angel of Hope Foundation and her tireless social work, continues to resonate not just in Zimbabwe, but across Africa and beyond.
Dr Mnangagwa, who is attending the summit as guest of honour, met with Mr Suri on the sidelines of the event to explore potential areas of collaboration between Zimbabwe and the Maser Group in sectors such as education, student accommodation, infrastructure development, mining, and sports. Mr Suri expressed a keen interest in investing in Zimbabwe, citing the country's strategic regional position and the First Lady's proven leadership and development work as key motivators.
The First Lady welcomed the proposals, particularly the idea of establishing a world-class international university in Zimbabwe, with a strong component on sports. She emphasised the importance of providing safe, adequate student accommodation across the country's tertiary institutions, noting that lack of housing often puts young people-especially girls-at risk.
"Provision of accommodation is crucial for our students. If there is no adequate housing, many, especially the girl child, are forced into unsafe living situations which we do not want them exposed to. With secure and independent accommodation, they will be able to study better and succeed," she said.
Dr Mnangagwa also stressed that incorporating sports into higher education would help combat the rise in drug and substance abuse among young people. She described the idea of a university with a sports-driven curriculum as innovative and timely.
"If we establish an international university that accommodates students from various countries, that would be excellent. Incorporating sports into the university will help keep our youth focused, especially as we see growing challenges with drug and substance abuse," she said.
Mr Suri responded positively, stating that his company has experience in large-scale infrastructure projects across Africa and is eager to implement a similar model in Zimbabwe through a public-private partnership with the Government. He noted that the Maser Group's interest spans several areas, including road construction, mining, and artificial intelligence, and that the proposed university project would be a flagship initiative near Harare.
He also revealed that Maser Group is already supplying building materials to several African countries and is prepared to invest in student housing, describing such projects as mutually beneficial to both investors and the nation.
"We have experience with the PPP model and have implemented it across Africa. The Zimbabwean Government is very supportive. The First Lady's warm welcome and confidence in our company will give this partnership the momentum it needs," Mr Suri said.
The meeting was attended by Zimbabwe's Ambassador to the UAE, Mr Lovemore Mazemo, who welcomed the potential investment and highlighted the government's commitment to creating a conducive environment for investors.
The summit, themed "Together We Make a Difference", officially opens today and brings together First Ladies from Africa and Asia to address critical social and health issues. Topics include improving healthcare capacity, tackling infertility stigma, ending child marriages, promoting girls' education, and advancing gender equality.
Dr Mnangagwa, who serves as the Merck Foundation's Ambassador for the "More Than a Mother" initiative, is expected to play a key leadership role at the summit. Her advocacy through the Angel of Hope Foundation has made a transformative impact on Zimbabwe's healthcare, education, and community development sectors.
Through her collaboration with the Merck Foundation, hundreds of Zimbabwean healthcare professionals have received specialist training in areas such as oncology, fertility, diabetes, cardiovascular health, and psychiatry. Many have studied abroad, gaining expertise in critical areas to help build national capacity and improve healthcare outcomes.
Beyond healthcare, Dr Mnangagwa continues to inspire First Ladies across the continent with her community outreach programmes, mobile health initiatives, and championing of traditional values anchored in Ubuntu.
As the summit gets underway, Dr Mnangagwa is expected to share her experiences and offer guidance to newly appointed First Ladies on how to turn their positions into platforms for positive change. Her legacy, already established through the Angel of Hope Foundation and her tireless social work, continues to resonate not just in Zimbabwe, but across Africa and beyond.
Source - The Herald
