By Fanuel Chinowaita
CHITAKATIRA, Aug 8, 2025 – The Leo Club of Chitakatira High School on Tuesday hosted a vibrant fundraising event to assist three children who were left homeless after a fire gutted their family home in Mutare District, leaving them without food, clothes, or money for urgent medical treatment.
The charity program, held at Chitakatira High School, also marked the launch of the Children’s Care Fund, a self-reliance initiative spearheaded by Hon. Tatenda Obrey Mayseane Mukukuwanda, Junior Member of Parliament for Mutare South Constituency. The fund’s motto is “African problems can best be solved by African solutions”, reflecting its vision of empowering rural communities to respond to crises from within.
The initiative seeks to erase the dependency syndrome that aid and donations have inculcated in marginalised rural children often reducing them to mere recipients of charity and instilling an inferiority complex. “This was a testament that we, the children of Mutare South Constituency, have stood up not to be counted among the needy but among nation builders,” Hon. Mukukuwanda said.
He stressed that while the constituency does not dismiss the value of aid and donations, they must complement local efforts rather than dictate how, why, and when communities address their own challenges. “Aid must buttress our own views and thoughts,” he said.
The Children’s Care Fund will be anchored by LEO Clubs and Toastmasters Clubs being launched in schools across the constituency, which Hon. Mukukuwanda described as “instruments upon which the Fund rests and balances,” enabling young people to build leadership, public speaking, and organisational skills.
The victims of the fire, a Chitakatira High School student and siblings from Chitakatira Primary School are aged 2, 10, and 12. The Headmistress of Chitakatira Primary School, Mrs Mangezi have been appealing to Zimbabweans locally and abroad for assistance, with donations coordinated through the school.
The fundraising event featured competitions in modelling, music, and games.
- Modelling (Culture): Contestant 7 took first place, Contestant 1 was second, and Contestant 5 placed third.
- Modelling (Casual): Contestant 6 won, Contestant 8 came second, and Contestant 1 took third.
- Cup Clash Singing: Wayne emerged the winner.
- Eating Apple Competition (Boys): Wayne again took the top spot.
- Drinking Competition (Girls): Brenda won.
- Eating Bread Competition: Brenda scooped her second victory.
- Eggrale: Tinotenda Murahwa triumphed.
- Dancing Competition: Evidence Group 1 came first.
Speaking after the event, Hon. Mukukuwanda confirmed that $300 was raised for the fire victims, in addition to $194 used to cover expenses for the Children’s Care Fund launch.
“This fund is for the children, by the children, and from the children,” he said. “It will help us respond quickly to crises in our schools and communities instead of waiting for slow-moving external aid. We must learn to lift each other up with what we have.”
.