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FOR a man who enjoyed perfect sight well into his thirties, turning blind as a result of a stroke changed his life forever.
After countless physiotherapy sessions, the man who had no idea his life story would serve as an inspiration to others, regained use of his muscles and part of the body that had been affected by the stroke.
He eventually managed to walk again but the downside was complete loss of eyesight.
Yet for local businessman Tapfuma Zhou disability is not inability.
Instead of using his loss of eyesight as an excuse to miss out on opportunities, Zhou chose to use his disability as a driving force to pursue success in the retail business.
Society has an obligation to take care of the disabled, treat them with respect yet for the local businessman even a person living with disability, if resources permit, can also lend a helping hand to able-bodied members of the community.
His passion has turned out into full philanthropic work in assisting less privileged members of society in Emakhandeni and Entumbane suburbs.
The two suburbs are close to his heart not only because he contested for a Parliamentary seat under the Zanu-PF banner in the July Harmonised Elections but runs retail businesses in the same constituency.
Taking a leaf from another philanthropist Raj Modi that good deeds are not restricted to the election season for aspiring political office bearers, Zhou will roll out a five-year project aimed at financially capacitating unskilled youths in Emakhandeni and Entumbane suburbs over the weekend.
“It’s a fact that we have a lot of unskilled and unemployed youths in our communities but with the right assistance they can turn around their future by embarking on income generating projects so we have identified a site in the Emakhandeni-Entumbane constituency for a brick moulding venture.
“It’s an all inclusive project that does not look at political affiliation and is open to unemployed youths,” said Munashe Zhou, brother and spokesperson for the local businessman.
Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs, Judith Ncube will be the guest of honour.
Zhou will finance the start-up project and it’s envisaged that the youths will grow it into a self-sustained profit making venture going into the future, riding on the back of anticipated growth in the construction industry.
“Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce Raj Modi is also embarking on a similar project in the Sizinda-Tshabalala area so we will consult and share notes with him on how to turn ours into a success,” he added.
Last month Zhou donated 40 bags of cement for the completion of a local War Veterans office and projects centre in Entumbane suburb.
Online Reporter