{UAH} “I call on Zimbabweans to demystify the idea of adoption and foster care

"I call on Zimbabweans to demystify the idea of adoption and foster care to ensure that orphaned children can grow up in traditional family set-ups that groom them for the future. The problem of orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable children, women, and girls is close to my heart. It is a problem that is not unique to Zimbabwe, but goes beyond our borders, regionally and internationally. However, the fact that it is a common problem is not a justification for us to let the situation worsen. As Zimbabweans, closely knitted family structures are a vital part of our culture. Surely, we are all relatives of these children. Most of us have the capacity to accommodate them. We can take them in within our homes. Adoption is also an option that we have and we should demystify and embrace it. There is no need to fear and remain in ignorance. We should educate each other and remove the myths and unfounded social cultural beliefs that hinder us from talking care of our own. Children's homes came about as a result of instances where parents did not have the capacity to take care of their children and opted for better care in the homes. The growing number of children's homes in the country was a cause for concern, which needed a collective solution. What is saddening is that some of these children are mentally challenged or disabled, requiring special care. These homes are regarded as a last resort; hence their increasing numbers is now a major concern. We should collectively interrogate the push factors and explore preventive mechanisms. The mere existence of the 14 children's homes here in Manicaland to me is the initial indication of a desire to provide for children's needs although it is in an alternate setting from the traditional family set-up. This is driven not only by my portfolio as the First Lady, but my passion for socio-transformation and improvement of livelihoods as a mother. I believe that going personally to meet the people and seeing first hand their predicament is the effective mechanism that will make one understand the people's needs and the existing gaps that require intervention."

----First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa

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"War is nothing but a  continuation of political intercourse, with a mixture of other means. Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest." 

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