EPWORTH LOCAL BOARD DELIVERS LAND TO VULNERABLE FAMILIES, FULFILLING FIRST LADY’S COMPASSIONATE PLEDGE

By Staff Reporter

The Epworth Local Board has officially allocated and handed over 200-square-meter residential stands to three highly underprivileged families, successfully fulfilling a humanitarian promise made by First Lady Dr Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa during her recent community outreach visit. Each of the allocated stands is valued at US$3,312, bringing the total value of the land donated to the three families to US$9,936.

The formal handover ceremony, held at the Epworth Local Board offices, was hosted by the Mayor of Epworth, Councillor Nyarai Rutsito, and marks a decisive intervention for some of the area’s most marginalized residents, transitioning them out of severe destitution into secure landowners.

The three beneficiaries were previously trapped in extreme poverty and harsh living conditions. Among them are two sisters who faced severe social isolation and community stigma, being burdened by a tragic situation where every boy child born to them suffered from profound physical and mental disabilities. Without answers or medical resources, local traditional figures and religious leaders alleged the family was under a spiritual attack or generational curse. This superstition resulted in total social exile, making it impossible for the sisters to find employment or permanent housing while surviving in a transient state and facing regular evictions from landlords who feared their household’s alleged affliction.

The third beneficiary, Mr Mudiwa, is a visually impaired military veteran who once served the country with honor. Following the loss of his eyesight, he lost his livelihood and independence. Lacking financial and family support systems, the ex-soldier fell into absolute homelessness, wandering the streets of Epworth daily and struggling to find a safe, dry place to sleep.

Their lives changed course when First Lady Dr Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa visited Epworth through her Angel of Hope Foundation. Deeply moved by the daily struggles of the blind veteran and the ostracized sisters, she pledged that they would be provided with permanent, secure shelter to restore their human dignity. After the First Lady visited the vulnerable families through passion, that is when Council realized that it was important to donate the stands to the families, and the Epworth Local Board immediately mobilized to execute the First Lady’s vision.

Speaking at the ceremony, Epworth Local Board Town Secretary Dr Witon Mhanda expressed immense gratitude for the initiative, stating that such care and active consideration for people with extreme vulnerabilities was a true act of love. He commended the First Lady’s consistency in championing marginalized groups and praised the local board’s team for swiftly finalizing the land transfers.

The allocation of these 200-square-meter stands acts as a vital structural shield. It provides a stable foundation for the sisters to build a home tailored to their disabled children’s needs, free from eviction and social stigma, while the property brings a definitive end to Mr Mudiwa’s homelessness and returns a sense of honor to his life. By executing this national philanthropic commitment, the Epworth Local Board has successfully restored safety, stability, and fundamental dignity to its citizens.

Furthermore, this collaborative effort demonstrates how effectively local authorities can align with national leadership to provide immediate relief to citizens in distress. Following the First Lady’s initial assessment of the families’ plight, the Epworth Local Board did not hesitate to implement her vision by prioritizing these allocations, showing that local governance is not just about civil engineering and revenue collection, but also about protecting the social fabric and rescuing families from systemic collapse.

In peri-urban areas like Epworth, where resources are often heavily strained, public interventions of this scale send a powerful ripple effect through the wider community, challenging deep-seated cultural misconceptions regarding physical limitations and reinforcing the idea that vulnerable citizens deserve structural empowerment rather than charity alone.

Witnessing the direct translation of a high-profile promise into actual title deeds has given the entire neighborhood a renewed sense of hope in local leadership. As these three families begin the process of clearing their new plots and sketching out plans for their permanent structures, they leave behind an era of daily displacement and step into a secure future where their right to shelter is legally and permanently guaranteed.

TOP PIC: Local Board Town Secretary Dr Wilton and Epworth Mayor Councillor Nyarai Rutsito handong over the stand papers to Mr and Mrs Mudiwa