Vusumuzi Dube
Natasha Sipindiye, Sunday News Reporter
FORMER Highlanders Football Club coach Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu has for the past ten years been showing his philanthropic side through donating clothes, sanitary pads and books to churches and vulnerable communities in and outside town without necessarily attracting media attention to his initiatives.
To him, giving out comes naturally and graciously. He doesn’t believe it has to be shouted out but said it was a culture born from the spirit of ubuntu that was supposed to be passed on to the youths. He recently donated more than 150 novels to women at the Chronicle offices as part of his efforts to celebrate August which is women’s month.
“I went to Chronicle because I wanted to celebrate women’s month, August with all the women who work there. I donated more than 150 novels for them to read. I have been reading Chronicle since 1961 so I had to come in and show some appreciation to the people (women) who toil for its production as we celebrate the women’s month,” said Zulu.
He said he had over ten years experience in donating with a bias towards women, adding that it was his desire to teach the youth to grow and understand the love that comes from women.
“I will tell you why I value women so much. As a football person myself we see so much crowds in the various stadiums that we go to play and watch soccer. You look at all the people and say is there any woman or a man who was not born of a woman, you don’t find one, that is how important women are.
They are very special. My mother taught me to value a woman,” he said.
He said to inculcate the spirit of giving, schools with the blessing of parents and guardians could start programmes where those that were willing and could afford would be asked to donate US$1 every year and the money be channelled towards procurement of sanitary pads that would be used by the schools each time a girl needs them.
Zulu has given over 18 000 sanitary pads to schools in and around Bulawayo. This year he has donated to over 15 schools while he has given some to churches to give out to their vulnerable congregants. He said it was only logical for girls and women to feel appreciated through giving them the dignity comfort that they wanted when nature calls as well as empower them through books that broaden their minds on feminine stuff.
“I am a patron at a school in Entumbane and I have been buying pads for the past three years for the school. It all started when my granddaughter started using pads at 11 years that I started appreciating how important it is to help out those that are struggling to have such important things. Besides, if we can have free condoms in men’s toilets why not free sanitary pads in women’s toilets,” he further added.
Online Reporter