Norman Dururu
GWERU – The Gweru Mayor’s Cheerfund has launched a compassionate drive to mobilise sanitary pads, food items, and clothing in support of underprivileged girls across the city.
On Saturday, prominent businesswoman Ambassador Smelly Dube made a generous contribution of US$2,000, along with a lorry-load of sanitary pads valued at US$3,000. This significantly boosted the initiative and brought hope to countless young women.
Speaking at the Cheerfund 2026 Charity High Tea, which brought together women from across the city, Ambassador Dube, the River Valley Group Chief Executive Officer, said the event was a shining example of how leadership, when combined with empathy, can catalyse social change.
“The call to bring sanitary wear, pantry items, and children’s clothing is a call to action that addresses the fundamental needs of our community.
“There are young girls in our city who miss school simply because they lack basic sanitary products and dignity. There are families whose pantries are empty and children who lack proper clothing,” she said.
Ambassador Dube said that by donating sanitary pads, food, and clothing, well-wishers were not just giving goods but also restoring dignity, providing sustenance, and offering hope.
She said this year’s High Tea theme, “Shine, glow, serve, save a life,” implores women to be beacons of hope in times of despair, to radiate kindness and generosity, and to recognise that blessings are meant to be shared.
Gweru Mayoress Memory Chivhoko said the donations were more than just items; they were vessels of hope.
“They show that we care for the vulnerable: the young girl who misses school because she cannot afford sanitary wear, and the family that goes to bed hungry,” she said.
Mayor’s Cheerfund board member Felicia Sibanda said serving the community is not just a duty; it is a lifeline.
“When we give, we restore dignity, offer hope, and literally save lives,” she said.
Sibanda said the Mayor’s Cheerfund has been paying school fees for underprivileged children and providing food to vulnerable families.
In June this year, the Cheerfund handed over 12 wheelchairs to people with disabilities in the city, in a gesture that promotes compassion, dignity, and inclusion.
The River Valley Group joins a growing list of organisations that have increased their support for the Gweru Mayor’s Cheerfund.
