Chinese-owned Hualin Quarry Mine in Bulawayo’s Pumula suburb on Friday gave food hampers to 243 people with disabilities in ward 17, Pumula as part of their social responsibility initiative.
The people who benefitted were from Robert Sinyoka (82), Mazwi village ( 23), St Peters (19), Pumula South (36) and Pumula North (75) and Methodist.
The residents received mealie meal, cooking oil, sugar and juice.
Speaking during the handing over of the food hampers at Methodist Village, Ward 17 Councilor Sikhululekile Moyo appreciated the food hampers.
“I would like to appreciate the leadership for this great idea that they had to assist people with disabilities. Most of the time we only look at old people and forget those with disabilities assuming that they are a minority, what I observed in my ward is that today we managed to give 253 people. These are the people we have been ignoring in the community thinking they are few but this program made them come out and be recognised,” she said.
Moyo said people with disabilities are often hidden at home.
“The habit that is there is that some people hide people with disability but we have seen that they are here and exist. We appreciate Hualin and hope that it won’t end during this Christmas season as these are the people who want assistance all the time.”
Councilor Moyo also appreciates the role played by the caregivers for people with disabilities.
Hualin Quary mine manager, Charles Ndlovu said they appreciate the community that allows them to operate.
“Today we had our social responsibility program where we were giving hampers to people with disabilities in the community. Today we are giving them mealie meal, cooking oil, sugar and juice since it is Christmas. We would like to thank the community which is allowing us to do this. People from different segments such as Methodist, Robert Sinyoka, and St Peters benefitted,’ said Ndlovu.
Meanwhile, Joel Moyo, Methodist village vice chairperson said they are happy that people with disabilities benefitted especially in the peri-urban set-up.
“We are happy about this program that came here, most of the time people with disabilities are not recognized especially in the peri-urban set-up, at times it is due to our culture and beliefs. We are grateful for the food hampers. We would like to thank our councillor and Hualin quarry mine who made this a success. I would like to thank also my colleagues who even identified children who were hidden,” said Moyo.
He said the program also benefitted the drug addicts, “they are also part of the community, we hope they will also live a positive life.”
One of the beneficiaries Rita Mafu appreciated the food hampers.
“We would like to appreciate the hampers, we had nothing in our homes, and we wish that the program could benefit other people with disabilities, it’s not easy taking care of people with disabilities, and we hope that God will assist us to take care of them,” said Mafu.
