Chronicle Editor
Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
IT was all cheer and joy yesterday as Tendy Three Investments (TTI) donated food hampers worth US$12 000 to 500 elderly residents in the high density suburbs of Bulawayo.
The hampers comprised an assortment of goods that included mealie-meal, cooking oil, sugar beans, soap, salt among other products.
Handing over the hampers, Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Solomon Mguni expressed gratitude for the donation while also commending the company for bringing sanity to the city’s parking system.
“On behalf of the residents, particularly the elderly, we want to thank Tendy Three Investments for this gesture. Nkulumane covers three wards in this city hence it is a big area.
“We want to thank the company which has brought sanity to our parking. Though we still have some disorder but they have tried their best. We will implore them to continue with the good culture of giving. We have noted that this is not the first time they have done this,” said Clr Mguni.
He said the gesture was a complement to other initiatives that are undertaken by various institutions like the Mayor’s Christmas Cheer Fund.
TTI managing director Mr Bongani Nyathi said they were giving back to the community which supports their business.
“As per our tradition we came to give the elderly here in Nkulumane with 100 families covered. We are not giving the elderly from Nkulumane alone but we will also give Pumula, Mzilikazi, Tshabalala and Lobengula.
“Overall we are giving 500 families across the city. We want to appreciate you as our parents who taught us and ensured we open the businesses we are operating today. As such we want to share some of our profits with you as the elderly,” said Mr Nyathi.
Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to Sunday News could not hide their joy over the gesture that they described as a bailout to their various situations.
“I was hoping my children would come through and bail us through this Christmas. When I got home yesterday, I heard that no one had come. Fortunately, I am an electrician who specialises in fixing stoves, so yesterday I was called by a client who then gave me US$6. I was glad because I knew I would now buy some meat and eat with my wife. This donation has thus come as a miracle to me and I think it is a gift from God,” said 73-year-old Mr Ronny Dube.
The 90-year-old Mrs Elizabeth Songo also shared the same sentiments with Mr Dube.
“I was not sure of how I was going to celebrate the Christmas day. None of my children came and I stay alone so I didn’t know what I would do. I stay in Nkulumane 5. I really feel grateful for this gesture,” said Mrs Songo.
TTI was introduced early this year to control the city’s parking system.–@nyeve14
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter