The intervention came barely two weeks after the First Lady
had asked them what they needed so that they leave the world’s oldest
profession, which exposes them to diseases and the risk of being gang-raped and
murdered.
So passionate about women empowerment is the First Lady
that she recently met with commercial sex workers from Mbare, Hatcliffe,
Waterfalls and Domboshava. Her aim is to rehabilitate and economically empower
them through various projects.
She has set up similar projects in various communities
countrywide for the benefit of women.
This comes at a time when Amai Mnangagwa is running various
programmes like Nharirire and Gota/Nhanga/Ixhiba to promote good morals and
ensure people live in harmony and with respect.
Addressing the women yesterday, the First Lady praised the
former commercial sex workers for their zeal to start income-generating
projects and implored them to remain united.
“I have come back my children so that we roll out some of
the projects that you said you wanted to do. I want to thank you for the zeal
to want to start these projects.
“We are now a family and we do not want those who quit.
Let’s remain united for the success of our projects. Those who said they wanted
to rear rabbits, ndakamhanya-mhanya through my Angel of Hope Foundation and
sourced these rabbits. I have brought them for you,” she said.
The First Lady said she also ran around looking for those
with expertise in detergent-making and implored the women to take notes so that
they grasp the concept. “My desire is for you to leave the streets and bars and
use your hands to raise your families.
“I want you to call me later and show me what you would
have achieved. Do not go backwards vanangu. As groups, I want you to meet
regularly and share ideas. This demands commitment and unity so that your minds
are put together,” she said.
A committee will be set among the members and they will be
assisted by social workers working with the First Lady to come up with a
constitution.
Experts in making detergents who accompanied the First
Lady, taught the women how to make dishwasher, pine gel and toilet cleaner,
among other detergents.
The women were given the products they made to sell as
starter packs. Making some of the detergents can take only 10 minutes, making
it easy to generate income over a short period of time.
The women sang, danced and ululated with happiness at the
mother of the nation’s quick response, promising to reform and use their hands
to earn clean money. The women said they intend to keep the projects running
and even expand them.
“I am grateful for what our mother has done. When she met
us as sex workers, she asked what we wanted and we asked for income-generating
projects.
“She did not take long before delivering on her promise.
Our group is into rabbit-rearing and today we got the rabbits. We love rabbits
because they multiply faster,” said the 33-year-old mother of three while
beaming with pride.
Another 43-year-old former commercial sex worker who has
two kids aged 28 and 22 who chose detergent-making, could not hide her joy and
said she was excited by the speedy response she got from the mother of the
nation.
Former commercial sex workers taking down notes on how to
make detergents during their training in Hatcliffe on Monday.
“She promised us and before two weeks she came back today
and equipped us with knowledge, gave us material to make pine gel, dishwashers
and toilet cleaners. Our mother has lived up to her word.
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