Assist in developing communities, private companies urged

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
PRIVATE companies should embrace the concept of partnerships and assist the government in developing communities they operate in, a Minister has said. Officially commissioning two classroom blocks built by Tongaat Hullet at Masuture Baptist Secondary School in Mwenezi on Friday, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Masvingo Cde Kudakwashe Bhasikiti commended the sugar growing and milling company for promoting education through infrastructure development.

“Indeed the unwavering support from private entities in the endeavour to improve the state of education in Zimbabwe cannot be over emphasised. We would like to urge other companies in the province to come together with government in such public, private partnership,” said Cde Bhasikiti.

“The government appreciates that private organisations such as Tongaat Hullet undertake in providing worthwhile resources to improve the state of education in the country.”

He said the gesture displayed by the company justifies the fact that Tongaat Hullet is responsible in the running of a number of primary and secondary schools in Chiredzi District.

“It is not surprising therefore that Tongaat Hullet is responsible for 21 schools in Masvingo, Chiredzi to be specific with an enrolment of 11,787 pupils across its estates at Triangle and Hippo Valley. The company alone upgraded the existing infrastructure at Masuture Secondary School to the same level of classroom blocks that they had constructed.

“Realising the sole need for hygiene, they went further and constructed a state-of-the-art ablution facility for girls and boys as well as storage space for showers,” said Cde Bhasikiti.

He challenged communities to work towards improving the school saying the company had showed them the way.
“I challenge Baptist Church and the community to improve the infrastructure and maintain what has been built. Indeed Tongaat Hullet, you have taught the community how to catch fish and therefore feed us for a lifetime,” said the Minister.