Danhiko friends lauded: The First Lady and Patron of Danhiko Project, Amai Grace Mugabe has paid tribute to friends of the Danhiko Project, cooperating partners and well-wishers for their unwavering support for the institution which celebrates 25 years of the Danhiko Annual Paralympic Games this year. The First Lady, who arrived to singing and drums from the children with disabilities at the venue, has made a pledge to have an early Christmas with children with disabilities at the institution every first Saturday of October during the launch of the games which are now in their 25th year running. The games provide an opportunity for children with disabilities to mix and mingle among themselves and to meet with their patron. Touched by the high turn out of people with disabilities and the overwhelming response by well-wishers and partners of Danhiko, Amai Mugabe suddenly burst into song, a church hymn ‘this is the day that the lord has made’ and sang for a few minutes before she began delivering her speech to mark the silver jubilee of the Danhiko games. Addressing thousands of guests who included government ministers, representatives of the corporate world and the banking community including RBZ Governor Dr Gideon Gono, Amai Mugabe said the unity among friends of Danhiko, well-wishers, cooperating partners and the Danhiko community helped overcome the economic challenges that bedevilled the country without disrupting services and operations at Danhiko, including the games. She paid tribute to the Danhiko Director Mrs Kgokgo Mudenge who invited her to be patron of the institution and the games, and the late board chairman and philanthropist Mr Paul Mukondo, who died earlier this year, saying the Danhiko silver jubilee should also be a special dedication to the forerunners and colleagues who have passed on. Amai Mugabe narrated how she became patron some 16 years ago with only 41 clubs and schools taking part in the games and how the games have grown to the over 2 000 participants that are taking part in the silver jubilee Danhiko paralympic games this year. She highlighted that sport as discipline is rewarding and gave examples of personalities who have excelled in sport for people with disabilities such as Elliot Mujaji and Johanna Benson of Namibia who excelled at the London Paralympic Games and got a street named after her back home in Namibia. She highlighted some of the developments that have taken place at Danhiko, including the upgrading and provision of facilities at the institution like establishment of an all-weather basketball court, and a towering gymnasium as well as the construction of three multipurpose all-weather tennis courts and spectator benches sponsored by Japan. Among the First Lady’s own contributions are the refurbishment of the swimming pool, the kitchen and procurement of modern kitchen equipment. She pledged to continue working for the institution. She also provides prize money for the winners in the annual paralympic games which has more than trebled this year from over US$12 000 last year to this year’s over US$39 000. There are some 2 800 participants in the silver jubilee games, a record attendance according to the games officials.
Posted on: Sat, 05 Oct 2013 17:57:36 +0000
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