FIRST Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s noble projects are coming at a cost for the cash-strapped Harare City Council which is said to have been forced to extend a helping hand, NewsDay has established.
Since coming into office, the first lady has embarked on a number of social projects meant to improve the lives of people in communities.
NewsDay is in possession of letters from government ministries and the Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ) directing the Harare municipality to participate financially in the First Lady’s programmes.
In a letter dated June 6, 2024 addressed to Harare town clerk Hosiah Chisango, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare permanent secretary Simon Masanga directed Harare to release money to fund the relocation of street children to Auxillia’s Children’s Home in Chiredzi.
Twenty children were removed from the streets and placed at Auxillia’s Children’s Home in Chiredzi. They were enrolled at nearby schools.
“As the chairperson of Harare task force on children working on the streets, your support is requested towards the removal and placement of children removed from central business district to Auuxillia Mnangagwa’s Children Home from 12th to 15th of June 2024,” the letter read in part.
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The letter was copied to mayor Jacob Mafume.
UCAZ, through its secretary-general Livison Mutekede, on December 4, 2024 directed council to donate to the First Lady’s children home in Chiredzi ahead of last year’s Christmas.
The letter was copied to Chisango and Mafume.
On April 4, 2024, UCAZ wrote directing Chisango to release funds for female councillors to attend the junior councillors annual national conference held in Victoria Falls from 11th to 14th of the same month.
“Your local authority is expected to meet the travel and subsistence costs of the female councillors,” the letter read.
On July 9, 2024, Harare metropolitan province secretary for provincial Affairs and Devolution Cosmas Chiringa wrote to Chisango requesting the release of HCC official Chiruzi Selina to be part of the advance team to the Sadc regional cookout competitions in Victoria Falls held from July 24 to 29.
“City of Harare is hereby requested to cater for their transport, accommodation and general welfare during their stay in Victoria Falls,” the letter read.
In another letter dated July 17, 2024, Mutekede wrote to HCC informing it that six female councillors were invited to attend the regional cookout competition and Nhanga/Gota programme which ran from 26 to 28 July 2024 in Victoria Falls.
In the end 33 people, made up of 24 councillors and nine officials were authorised to attend the event at a cost of ZiG740 415,19.
UCAZ also wrote to HCC, instructing it to finance a Christmas party held on December 19, 2023 at Auxillia’s Children’s Home in Chiredzi.
“For logistical purposes we are requesting an advance team to travel to Chiredzi on December 16, 2023 and come back to their work stations on December 20, 2023,” added the letter saying HCC should finance accommodation, travel and subsistence allowances.
This publication is also in possession of council minutes dated March 8, 2023 where it was resolved that councillors should visit the First Lady’s children home in Chiredzi.
“The committee resolves and authorises the seven councillors to visit Chambuta, Chiredzi from 7th to 11th March 2023 at a total cost to council of ZWL$8 535 089 88 in accommodation, dinner, travelling costs, lunches and out of pocket allowances payable in terms of clause 10.2 of Talent Development Policy, subject to variation,’ the minutes read.
“Finance department is hereby authorised to pay the expenses as outlined in the resolution.”
On January 4, 2024, Masanga wrote to Chisango seeking authority for HCC officials to visit the First Lady, children’s home from January 8 to 13 2024.
On May 5, 2023, there was a request to release ZW$22 238 563, 61 for some councillors to travel to the First Lady’s children’s home in Chiredzi from May 10 to 11.
Council’s human capital department minutes dated August 9, 2024, indicate that city fathers recommended two officials to visit Auxillia’s Children’s Home in January for four days.
Council spokesperson, Stanley Gama, directed all the questions to Mafume when contacted for comment.
Mafume said they had a UCAZ-sanctioned programme to support orphanages.
“It’s a good programme actually.”
Mutekede said: “After all there is a resolution at UCAZ level to finance First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa programmes and the Chiredzi children.”