Army brings joy to Khayelihle Children’s Home

Esinathy Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) has donated groceries to Khayelihle Children’s Home as part of its corporate social responsibility.

The ZNA’s One Infantry Brigade did this in partnership with the Executive Interactive Initiative (EII) Committee for the Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South chapter.

The EII Committee, a brainchild of Zimbabwe Defence Forces Commander, General Philip Valerio Sibanda, is made up of captains of industry from companies operating in Matabeleland provinces that include PPC Zimbabwe Ltd, United Refineries Ltd, Stanbic Bank, Bakers Inn, Doves Funeral Services, Nyaradzo Group, First Mutual Life, African Distillers, Rainbow Tourism Group and Laymack.

The bulk of the donation to Khayelihle, which takes care of 52 children from primary school going age group to university level, was availed by United Refineries Ltd.

The donated groceries include 400 kilogrammes of mealie-meal, 10 boxes of 2 litres cooking oil and 10 cases of green bar soap. They also donated five bedding sheets.

The children’s home’s board of directors and children were overjoyed.

“We are grateful for having the army and its partners who are not isolated to the realities of the communities they come from and this kind gesture came at the time we needed it most. Imagine without all these and taking care of children with different needs due to different health condition,” said Khayelihle Children’s Home director, Mrs Vimbai Vuma.

One of the children whose name has been withheld for ethical reasons said they were grateful for the assistance.

“On behalf of the board of directors, I would like to thank you for choosing us. You could have chosen any other orphanage in Bulawayo but you chose us,” said the child.

In a handover speech at the children’s home’s offices in the city, the ZNA One Brigade Administrative Staff Officer, Major Edmore Mashavira, said they were pleased to be part of the good initiative to assist needy members of society.

The EII chairperson, Mr Trust Mabaya, said the kind gesture was part of the objective of the initiative to create an interactive platform between the army and civilians.—@esinathy_essira