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Martha Leboho Herald Correspondent
One of the country’s top seed producers, Seed Co, has given Copota School of the Blind in Zimuto Communal lands a shot in the arm after donating five tonnes of mealie-meal. The gesture by Seed Co is expected to ease biting food shortages at the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe-run institution which is home to hundreds of physically challenged children.
Copota survives on help from donors and well-wishers and the institution has of late been plagued by challenges ranging from shortage of food and potable water, among others.
Speaking at the handover of the donation at the school on Wednesday, Seed Co group production and development manager Mr Dean Muungani said his organisation came to Copota’s assistance after realising that the school was running a number of projects designed to achieve self-sustainability.
“We realised the need to support Copota School for the Blind here in Masvingo Province which supports 450 students. I am impressed with the spirit of hard work that is being shown here. You are not simply waiting for donations but have come up with a number of money-making projects to ensure the institution continues to function,” said Mr Muungani.
“We are donating five tonnes of mealie-meal to the institution and we believe our gesture will go a long way in subsidising the costs of providing meals here.’’
Copota School for the Blind headmaster Mr Simbarashe Manjere applauded Seed Co for assisting the physically challenged at his institution.
He said the gesture by Seed Co will inspire other well-wishers to offer a helping hand while it served as confirmation that Zimbabwe was prepared to empower the physically challenged child in the new era.
Speaking at the same event, RCZ education secretary Mr Samson Shava called for integration between the physically challenged and able-bodied in society as they shared the same world and circumstances.
“The life of physically challenged people will also evolve around able-bodied people, so we expect them to integrate with other able-bodied people. I do not support (the idea of) special schools for the physically challenged, as this creates discrimination in the society. The physically challenged and the able-bodied should just freely mix,’’ said Mr Shava.
Copota School for the Blind is currently running self-sustaining projects like fish farming, poultry, piggery and organic gardening. The institution has also immensely benefited from Government’s Command Agriculture programme that has helped to improve food availability.
Online Reporter