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Mutharika asks Malawians to embrace charity

 

First Lady Gertrude Mutharika has urged people in the country to emphasise charity during the festive season for Christmas and New Year to be more meaningful.

Mutharika, who is also Beautify Malawi (Beam) Trust patron, was speaking on Sunday at Madothi Village in Traditional Authority Nankumba in Mangochi when she cheered a four-year-old Thandizo Simon, who successfully underwent a hand surgery at Beit Cure Hospital in Blantyre. The hand had six fingers.

Mutharika chats with Thandizo and his mother on New Year’s Day

She said Christmas and New Year celebrations are an important period for people to extend a helping hand to others to deepen God’s love through serving others in cash or kind.

“Christmas and New Year provide a rare opportunity for people who have to share with those who are not privileged. In particular, consideration ought to be given to those in dire situations like those in prison, hospital and those generally in need,” Mutharika said.

She disclosed that Thandizo was identified by a group of Chinese tourists who came to Cape Maclear late last year. The boy was seen waving the team using the hand.

Said Mutharika: “When the story reached Beam, we did not hesitate, but facilitated his trip to Beit Cure where he had the other finger removed.”

Malawi Embassy First Secretary in Beijing, James Maseko, said a Chinese tourist who took a picture of Thandizo swimming in Lake Malawi referred the issue to Beam.

In her remarks, Thandizo’s mother Msatha Matabwa thanked Beam Trust for reaching out to her child, saying the operation will help reduce stigma directed at him. n

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