Col. Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga Rallies Support for St Giles Rehabilitation Centre

Harare – In a heartfelt call for compassion and collective responsibility, Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga urged Zimbabweans to come together to safeguard the future of children living with disabilities.

Speaking as Guest of Honour at the St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre Stakeholder Appreciation and Hostel Fundraising Breakfast Meeting held at the Hyatt Regency in Harare, Col. Baloyi-Chiwenga underscored the importance of inclusive development and social solidarity in ensuring that no one is left behind.

The event, which brought together corporate leaders, development partners, government officials, and members of the disability community, aimed to raise funds to save the St Giles Children’s Hostel, a critical facility that provides accommodation and care for children undergoing rehabilitation.

The facility, which has long been a sanctuary for young patients from across Zimbabwe, is now facing the threat of closure due to financial constraints.

For decades, St Giles Medical Rehabilitation Centre has stood as a beacon of hope for thousands of Zimbabweans living with disabilities.

It offers a range of services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and special needs education.

The children’s hostel has been particularly instrumental in accommodating young patients from rural and low-income backgrounds who would otherwise have no access to specialized rehabilitation services.

However, due to rising operational costs, limited donor funding, and economic pressures, the hostel now faces closure — a move that could displace dozens of vulnerable children and disrupt their treatment.

Speaking with emotion, Col. Baloyi-Chiwenga emphasized that this was not just a health issue, but a moral imperative for society.

“According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), development must be inclusive, non-discriminatory, and must reach those who are most vulnerable first,” she said. “These children are not just patients; they are part of our national family. We must ensure they continue to receive the care, dignity, and support they deserve.”

Col. Baloyi-Chiwenga’s remarks resonated deeply with attendees, many of whom pledged renewed commitment to supporting the centre.

She highlighted that true national progress can only be measured by how a society treats its most vulnerable members.

“Our development agenda must reflect compassion. Supporting children with disabilities is not charity — it is justice,” she declared. “These children remind us that disability is not inability. What they need is an enabling environment, one that affirms their humanity and nurtures their potential.”

Her message came at a critical time when social support institutions across the country face mounting financial challenges.

Despite the hurdles, she commended the management and staff of St Giles for their resilience and unwavering dedication.

“The staff here are everyday heroes,” she noted. “They work tirelessly to restore hope and dignity to those who come through these doors. They do so not for recognition, but because they believe in humanity.”

Zimbabwe’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities), aligns strongly with the work done at St Giles.

However, as Col. Baloyi-Chiwenga pointed out, achieving these goals requires more than policy — it demands empathy, resources, and partnerships.

She challenged both public and private sectors to view inclusion not as a peripheral goal, but as a central pillar of development planning.

“When we speak of Vision 2030, of a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society, we must ensure that children with disabilities are not spectators but participants in that journey,” she said. “Their dreams matter. Their lives matter. Their inclusion is a test of our humanity.”

Her speech reflected a deep understanding of the intersection between disability rights, health care, and national development.

By anchoring her message within the global framework of the SDGs, she emphasized that disability inclusion is not a side issue — it is foundational to sustainable progress.

The fundraising breakfast drew representatives from major corporations, NGOs, faith-based organizations, and diplomatic missions, all of whom echoed the need for collaboration. Many pledged financial or material support toward the rehabilitation of the hostel.

St Giles Centre Director Ms. Nyasha Mhandu expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support and described Col. Baloyi-Chiwenga’s presence as “a source of immense encouragement.”

“Having a leader of her stature join us today sends a strong message that disability inclusion is a national concern,” Mhandu said. “We are truly humbled. Every contribution made today will help us keep the hostel doors open and ensure that children continue to receive the care they desperately need.”

Representatives from the private sector also highlighted the potential of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in driving meaningful change.

Companies such as CBZ Holdings, Econet Wireless, and Delta Corporation expressed willingness to explore long-term partnerships with St Giles through financial assistance, equipment donations, and volunteer support.

Among the guests were children and parents who have benefited from St Giles’ services. Their testimonies moved many to tears, serving as a reminder that behind every statistic lies a human story.

One mother, Mrs. Rudo Chigariro, shared how her 8-year-old son regained mobility after months of therapy at the centre.

“When we arrived here, my son couldn’t walk or sit upright. Today, he’s back in school and dreaming of becoming a teacher. St Giles gave us back our lives,” she said.

Such stories underscored the life-changing impact of rehabilitation and why preserving the hostel is so critical.

For children from distant rural areas, the hostel is not just accommodation — it is a bridge to recovery, education, and a dignified future.

As the event concluded, Col. Baloyi-Chiwenga pledged her continued support to the centre, both personally and through her networks.

She urged all stakeholders to view the fundraising not as a one-time act, but as part of a broader movement toward a more inclusive Zimbabwe.

“We are all custodians of one another’s dreams,” she said. “Let us be the generation that refuses to turn a blind eye to suffering. Let us be the nation that proves compassion is not weakness but strength.”

Her words were met with a standing ovation, symbolizing a shared resolve to act.

The St Giles initiative serves as a reminder that in a developing nation, progress is not only about infrastructure and economics — it is also about the moral infrastructure of society.

The compassion shown by leaders like Col. Baloyi-Chiwenga reflects a growing movement within Zimbabwe to redefine development through inclusion, empathy, and community responsibility.

As the morning sun lit the Hyatt’s glass atrium, attendees left not just inspired, but mobilized — ready to play their part in ensuring that the children of St Giles, and others like them, continue to have a home, a voice, and a future.

“Inclusion is not a privilege. It is a right. And when we uphold it, we uphold the very soul of our nation.” — Col. Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga