By Byron Mutingwende
There was an entertainment galore at Mother Theresa Old People’s Home in Mbare this weekend, thanks to MultiChoice Zimbabwe’s corporate social responsibility initiative.
Elizabeth Dziva, the Public Relations Manager of MutiChoice Zimbabwe said that as a company, there was need to give back to the community they serve.
“The elderly and the underprivileged members of society also deserve our support. This initiative is meant to give a smile to their faces. The musicians that we have invited have belted several songs meant to give them joy and everyone here was smiling. Apart from the food hand-outs and clothes from the corporate community and well-wishers, the musicians and other guests mixed and mingled with the elderly and the less disadvantage and a show of love and care,” Dziva said.
The “Chisikana Changu Zimbabwe” hit-maker, Dereck Mpofu, who also doubles as the environmental champion – a move that earned him the moniker Green Ambassador by the legion of his fans, mesmerized the audience with his melodious voice. The elderly took to the dance floor to celebrate the gesture of love shown by the musicians.
Mpofu has been spearheading a campaign against littering in collaboration with Harare City Council and is also an advocate of preserving wetlands.
“I was working with Liz from MultiChoice in mobilising other artists to come and grace this event. This initiative is great and should be continuous. As Zimbabweans, we should take care of our adults. The fellowship has been so effectual. The elders took a break from what they usually do. As a musician with great focus on the environment I feel I should go beyond the environment and reach out to touch the lives of those who stay within the environment,” Mpofu said.
Imbuwa Mubu, team leader of Note2eton Musical Group led his troops in belting out the song “Distant Lover” by Louis Mhlanga, the popular “Nhemamusasa” and “Sevenza Nhamo Ichauya” to the amusement of the elderly.
The popular group will be travelling to South Africa this month for the world choir games in Tshwane. They will compete against the world’s best choral groups including the current holders Stellenbosch. In the past, they participated in the National Institute of Applied Arts and the Vocal and Instrumental Festival where they were adjudged the Best Traditional Choir, Best Acapella Choir and Best Performance of Katy Perry’s Roar award winners.
Also in attendance were Pax Gomo, Brian Panavanhu and Musa Effect among other local musicians.
Sister-in-charge of Mother Theresa Old People’s Home, Charbel Marie, paid tribute to MultiChoice for organising the entertainment event for the elderly. At present, the institution is catering for 22 women and 54 men who are mostly destitute or from very poor families.
Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, better known as Mother Theresa, was born on 26 August 1910, in Skopje, Macedonia. She cared for the poor and the sick. On 10 September 1946, on the train journey from Calcutta to the Dajeeling to make her retreat, Mother Theresa received what she termed “the call within a call” which was to give rise to the Missionaries of Charity – a family of sisters, brothers and co-workers with deep roots in the Roman Catholic faith.
The content of the inspiration is revealed in the aim and the mission she would give to the new institute: “to quench the infinite thirst of Jesus on the cross for the love and souls by labouring for the salvation of the poorest of the poor.”