Prominance S.K Khumalo
Monday 14 July 2025
Bulawayo, Zimbabwe – Allegations have surfaced against First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s upcoming cook-out competition, with parents claiming they are being forced to provide expensive ingredients and materials at short notice.
The competition, set to take place at Townsend Girls High School, involves several institutions, including King George VI for the handicapped, Ntshamathe, and others. However, discontent is growing among parents who say they were given less than a week to gather items such as umhwabha (dried meat), peanut butter, ibhobola, and ulaza.
Of particular concern is the requirement that aprons used in the competition must be made from material bearing the First Lady’s branding. “We were given the list late, and some of these things are expensive and hard to find,” said one parent, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Why should we be forced to buy specific fabrics just for a school event?”
Another parent lamented the financial strain, saying, “We don’t have the money to sponsor this ourselves. These demands are unfair, especially with such short notice.”
Despite their frustrations, some parents have already sourced the required items, though they remain unhappy with the competition’s organization.
When contacted for comment, officials overseeing the event had not responded by the time of publication.
The controversy has sparked debate over the fairness of such initiatives, with critics questioning whether they place undue pressure on already struggling families.
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