Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Sports Editor
PPC Zimbabwe will soon be dispatching a truckload of sanitary pads to Manjolo High School in Binga that were collected and also bought with funds raised at the PPC Charity Golf Day held at the Elephant Hills Golf Course in Victoria Falls on Saturday.
As part of its Community Social Initiative, PPC Zimbabwe this year decided to use the golf day to address the challenges of menstrual hygiene among rural girls who at times are forced to miss classes because they cannot afford sanitary pads. Manjolo High School was chosen to benefit this year.
Participants at the golf tournament were urged to bring sanitary pads or contribute financially.
At the end of the golf competition, some of the partakers raised US$500 from a chip and putt competition. PPC pledged to double that amount and also match whatever was raised during the golf dinner.
Kelibone Masiyane, the PPC Zimbabwe managing director said the company this year decided to focus on the difficulties faced by rural girls.
“Our charity cause is for a different purpose, it is inspired by the plight of the girl child in the rural areas who is forced to miss classes due to misconstrued beliefs and practices around menstruation.
“Despite numerous efforts to promote girl education in Zimbabwe, menstrual hygiene management has not been given adequate attention in both schools and also within our communities, it remains clouded in cultural taboos, restrictions and unhygienic practices,” said Masiyane.
He challenged individuals and corporates to assist in addressing the challenge of girls missing classes because of lack of sanitary pads.
“The stigma around it is a violation of girls rights to human dignity, the majority of girls in Zimbabwe use inappropriate materials that compromise their health. Sanitary pads are not a luxury but a need, it is for this reason that I implore all of you, individuals and organisations to come together and help our future generation by eradicating that salient hazard in our rural and marginalised schools,” he said.
“As PPC we do not take this role lightly as a powerful force for development, our CSI is a lifeline for many people in these difficult times and I do encourage us all to continue to seek out ways in which we can make a difference to those around us,” said Masiyane.
Edson Masungo, the Binga District schools inspector said many girls in Binga miss classes whenever they are on their periods, which was impacting negatively on the district’s pass rate in public examinations.
According to Masungo, Manjolo is one of the promising schools in Zimbabwe with 500 learners, 300 of them girls.
“Most of the girls at Manjolo are under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM) while some are being assisted by partners. This donation will therefore go a long way in improving the livelihoods of our girls,” said Masungo.
Last year, cash and blankets were collected at the PPC Charity Golf Day, which were donated to the Victoria Falls Old People’s Home.
On Saturday, Edward Nyekete took the top honours in the men’s section with 41 points followed by Bheki Mthembu on 39 points. Nicole Botha was the top performing female with 32 points, closely followed by Terry Tshamala on 31 points,
Brian Gondo was the best professional golfer out of the five pros who took part in the charity event. The other pros were Phillip Tshuma, Thembelani Vundla and Stephen Simukai. — Mdawini_29
Online Reporter