Online Reporter
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
The Hunan (province) Business Association in Zimbabwe, a key collective of Chinese investors operating in the country, has committed US$50 000 toward the construction of a state-of-the-art child stimulation class at Chinamano Primary School in Epworth.
The facility is a cornerstone of the association’s ongoing corporate social responsibility drive, designed to provide a specialised educational and therapeutic environment for students with profound or severe disabilities.
It will cater specifically to children who communicate and acquire knowledge primarily through their senses and physical interaction.
The pledge was officially announced by the group’s chairman on Sunday at Chinamano Primary School during a handover ceremony where the Chinese business group also donated food hampers worth US$4 000 to the Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association.
“This is our fourth consecutive year celebrating with the Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association. We previously held a Christmas party, which included a jumping castle, but after consulting with my fellow management, we agreed that we should launch a more sustainable, long-term donation,” the Hunan (province) Business Association in Zimbabwe Chairman Mr Song Zhuolin said.
“Besides the US$4 000 donation of food hampers, we have pledged to build a dedicated block (a stimulation class) complete with a classroom, kitchen, shower rooms, and a dining room. We have budgeted approximately US$50 000 for the entire block, and we hope this dedicated facility will give disabled children the same rights to an education as non-disabled children.”
He also revealed that the designs for the new block are already complete, with construction work expected to start early next year in January.
Zimbabwe Parents of Handicapped Children Association programmes manager, Mr Regis Manjoro said:
“We are very happy today because of this gesture from the business community in China, who came here for an early Christmas party for our children and made their latest pledge to build a stimulation class for our children.”
” We are also happy that our children will get an opportunity to come to school because of this new facility, and it also means more and more children who are disabled will also come to learn at this school.”
Ms Joyce Zemura, a parent of one of the disabled children said; “We are very excited that our children will have a dedicated classroom with toilets, and we would also like to thank the Chinese business community for their donations.”
Local Councillor, Cde Civilised Bushe, commended President Mnangagwa for sustaining robust ties with China, acknowledging their contributions to the nation’s development agenda.
