Gweru – In the world of business and philanthropy, Amb Prof. Smelly Dube is known for extending a helping hand to others and championing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision that no one and no place should be left behind.
But five years ago, the philanthropist found herself on the receiving end of an unexpected gesture of solidarity.
As she battled illness in a hospital, 51 men and women from Mkoba—many of them beneficiaries of her charitable work—gathered outside the hospital to pray for her recovery.
They could not enter her room because of hospital regulations and her high-profile status.
But the barriers did not stop them.
Standing outside, the group broke into hymns and prayers, their voices echoing through the hospital as they danced and prayed for the woman who had supported them through difficult times.
Five years later, their act of kindness has remained etched in Prof. Dube’s heart.
On Friday, 7 August 2026, she brought the group together for a special ceremony in Gweru to honour what she described as her “all-weather friends”.
Many of the 51 beneficiaries already receive monthly assistance from her charity organisation, but Prof. Dube felt their act of solidarity during one of the most difficult periods of her life deserved special recognition.
With emotion running high, she presented the group with money and grocery hampers as a token of appreciation for standing by her when she needed them most.
“We are all humans,” Prof. Dube said.
“At times, we fall sick. Sometimes, we have some misfortunes that befall us, but it is during these trying times that we meet friends like you who come to visit and be in solidarity with us.”
For Prof. Dube, the gesture demonstrated that compassion is not a one-way transaction. While she has provided material support to members of the community, they offered her something that money could not buy—prayers, companionship and emotional strength at a time of vulnerability.
The story also underscores the deeper bonds that can emerge between philanthropists and the communities they serve, transforming relationships built around assistance into genuine friendships.
Mrs Margaret Maphosa, who led the group during the vigil five years ago and continues to lead them, said their prayers for Prof. Dube were also prayers for the continued success of her work in the community.
“We pray for the blessings, we pray for her company to continue to grow so that they can continue to work with the community,” she said.
The ceremony was therefore more than an occasion to distribute money and groceries.
It was a celebration of reciprocity—a reminder that even those who spend their lives giving to others sometimes need someone to stand beside them.
For Prof. Dube, the 51 men and women from Mkoba are no longer simply beneficiaries of her generosity.
They have become her “all-weather friends”—people who demonstrated that genuine kindness is measured not only by what one gives, but also by who remains standing beside you when the tables are turned.
