The Circle of Kindness: Amb Prof. Smelly Dube Honors the Community that Prayed Her Back to Health
By Staff Reporter
In the high-stakes world of business and international philanthropy, the name Amb Prof. Smelly Dube is synonymous with strength and provision.
As a renowned business mogul, she is usually the one extending a hand to pull others up and insisting on the importance of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mantra that noone and no place must be left behind.
But five years ago, within the sterile, quiet walls of a hospital room, the roles were reversed.
The benefactor became the one in need of a miracle, and the answer to her prayers didn’t come from a boardroom—it came from the pavement outside.
It is a universal truth that life is a transient journey, a tapestry woven with threads of soaring success and sudden, humbling lows. In those moments of vulnerability, status and wealth fade into the background, leaving behind only the need for true companionship.
Five years ago, as Professor Dube battled illness, a group of 51 men and women from Mkoba arrived at the hospital.
These were not dignitaries or business partners; they were the beneficiaries of her charity organization—people whose lives had been touched by her generosity. Because of her high-profile status and hospital regulations, the group was barred from entering her room.
Yet, they refused to be silenced by walls or security guards.
Standing in solidarity under the open sky, the group began to sing.
Their voices, lifted in hymns of hope and fervent prayers, echoed through the hospital corridors. They danced and prayed, a vibrant display of love for the woman who had so often stood for and with them.
On Friday 7th August 2026, that melody of gratitude came full circle.
Remembering the people she now describes as her “all-weather friends,” Prof Smelly Dube hosted a moving ceremony to honor the group.
While many of them are already recipients of her charity’s monthly support, she felt a deeper “token of appreciation” was due.
Amidst tears of joy and shared memories, she presented them with money and special grocery hampers—a physical manifestation of a debt of gratitude she has carried for half a decade.
“We are all humans,” Prof. Dube reflected, her voice filled with emotion.
“At times, we fall sick. Sometimes, we have some misfortunes that befall us, but it is during these trying times that we meet friends like you who come to visit and be in solidarity with us.”
Her message was clear: charity is not a one-way street. It is the foundation of a harmonious community where the strong support the weak, and the weak, in turn, provide the spiritual and emotional fortitude that no amount of money can buy.
Mrs. Margaret Maphosa, who led the group during their vigil five years ago and continues to lead them today, spoke of a bond that transcends material giving. “We pray for the blessings, we pray for her company to continue to grow so that they can continue to work with the community,” she said.
The event was a powerful reminder that while Prof. Dube may provide the groceries that fill their kitchens, it is the community of Mkoba that provides the prayers that fuel her spirit. In the eyes of Amb Prof Smelly Dube, these 51 souls are no longer just beneficiaries—they are the “all-weather” guardians of her journey, proving that when we work in harmony, no one has to walk through the shadows alone.
