First Lady, Grace Mugabe has taken 25 abandoned children from Bulawayo to accommodate them at her orphanage in Mazowe where more than 62 families were reportedly displaced to pave way for the project.
President Robert Mugabe made the disclosure at the Midlands State University in Gweru where he capped 1 882 graduates last Friday.
President Mugabe told the gathering his wife had donated 30 computers to the institution of higher learning, but could not attend the handover ceremony because she was receiving the abandoned children in Bulawayo.
“She would have loved to be here for the handover, but she is receiving abandoned kids from Bulawayo. I was talking to Dr (David) Parirenyatwa and he was telling me that everything was on course for the children to be received,” President Mugabe said.
He said in future the orphanage would also take in orphaned children.
According to reports, Mazowe residents bought stands at the controversial farm way back in 1998 from the rural district council and had completed building their houses.
But a year ago, government ordered them to vacate to pave way for the construction of the First Lady’s orphanage.
Although they were promised compensation and alternative accommodation, the residents said government was yet to deliver on its promises.
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Last month, the residents were allegedly ordered to vacate their houses with immediate effect to make way for the expansion of the orphanage, amid reports government was planning to resettle them on an unserviced piece of land in the area.
Authoritative sources said government had since reneged on its compensation pledge, shifting the responsibility to Mazowe Rural District Council.
