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Gibson Mhaka
ZIMPAPERS, the country’s largest diversified media group, will on Sunday launch a national fundraising campaign to mobilise resources to bolster Government and private sector support in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.
Zimpapers group public relations and corporate affairs manager Beatrice Tonhodzayi said the campaign to run under the tagline: #TogetherWeStandTogetherWeWin, would see all the group’s platforms — print, digital, television and radio mobilising audiences across the country and globe lend a hand to the Covid-19 response.
“While the Group has been running an educational campaign on Covid-19 with all its newspaper and broadcast platforms running with information aimed at educating the public about Covid-19 since March; the fundraising initiative is meant to rally Zimbabweans both locally and globally to go a step further and give towards the Covid-19 cause.
“Beneficiaries of the campaign will include frontline workers, the elderly, the disabled, the underprivileged children and other vulnerable groups,” said Tonhodzayi.
She said a separate bank account and merchant code had been created for the campaign with Zimpapers committing to accounting for all donations as the campaign runs adding that all Zimpapers offices across Zimbabwe would serve as collection points where the public could drop in their donations.
Zimpapers chief executive Pikirayi Deketeke welcomed the initiative saying the effects of Covid-19 would be felt by generations to come; adding that the pandemic had affected communities in many different ways with some losing loved ones and others losing livelihoods while others found themselves living with daily risk due to the work they do.
“With this campaign; we are inviting Zimbabweans to come together to contribute to the national Covid-19 response. There are not enough test kits and personal protective equipment (PPE) for those who need them.
“There are also heart-breaking personal stories of people who are struggling to put food on the table; which our reporters are highlighting daily through our platforms.
“With winter fully upon us now; our hearts go out to those thousands who do not have enough warm clothing or blankets. Colds and coughs are very common in this season and we anticipate that there will be rising needs for flu medicines, vitamins and related essentials. With us coming together to contribute what we can; we will make a difference in someone’s life,” said Deketeke.
Last year the country’s leading multimedia organisation and its partners also donated an assortment of goods to families affected by Cyclone Idai which claimed hundreds and left thousands homeless in Chimanimani, Chipinge and some parts of Masvingo.
As part of its corporate social responsibility programme and in partnership with Island Hospice, Zimpapers has for the past two years been holding a cancer power walk to raise awareness on the importance of early cancer detection and preventative lifestyles people can adopt.
Online Reporter