By Ndumiso Tshuma
In a show of corporate social responsibility, Proton Bakers Zimbabwe, a renowned producer of bread, cookies, and biscuits has made a donation of 100 litres of paint to the Bulawayo Public Library.
The donation, held at the Bulawayo Public Library on Wednesday, was aimed at renovating some sections of the library that were deteriorating.
Assistant Operations Manager at Proton Bakers in Bulawayo, Andrew Jusa, highlighted the company’s dedication to giving back to the community that has warmly embraced them. He noted that this donation marks the start of future collaborations and further support for various community projects.
“Proton, which was created in 1961 in Mashonaland East, a producer of bread cookies and biscuits, has been here in Bulawayo for the past seven years and Bulawayo has received us well,” Jusa said.
“As part of our corporate social responsibility, we had to give back to the community from where we drive our business, so today we donated 100 litres of paint to the library and it’s the beginning of good things to come and the beginning of our partnership with the library.”
Jusa added that the bakery will continue donating to various community initiatives.
“Currently we are doing donations weekly to Mustard Seed where we are taking care of the kids by providing breakfast for them,” Jusa said.
The Assistant Operations Manager also addressed the significance of supporting local initiatives and said Proton found it fitting to play their part in renovating the library, particularly the braille area that needed attention.
“We found it fit that we can come and play our part in the face lifting of the library, we noticed the braille area that needed face lifting and we donated 100 litres of paint. This donation is also part of our ongoing efforts and demonstration of our commitment to giving back to the community,” said Jusa.
Chairperson of the Bulawayo Public Library, Innocent Ncube expressed gratitude for the donation, acknowledging the essential role the library plays in promoting a culture of reading among the youth.
He added the historical importance of the library, which has served prominent figures like former President Robert Mugabe and continues to impact the broader Zimbabwean community.
“The Bulawayo public library came to be in 1896 and it has served the likes of the former president , Robert Mugabe and I think the current president as well. Nowadays children are so keen on watching television but we are saying they should come and read at the library,” Ncube said, expressing gratitude for the donation.
“As you can see part of the paint work is falling off in some parts of the library. We need more donations for the upkeep of the library and we need it because this library is self-sustaining and we no longer have donors coming to assist us.”
Ncube also lamented that the culture of reading has gone down and encouraged young people to join the library and read more.
“We get our funds from the people who come and join and become members of the library,” he added.
Chief Librarian of the Bulawayo Public Library, Rita Budi, said the donated paint will be used to improve the library facilities, particularly focusing on revitalising the braille section.
“We are trying to keep the library afloat with so many activities that we are doing. The braille library section is one of the damaged,” she said.
Budi also emphasised the importance of community involvement in sustaining the library’s operations through activities such as spelling contests, STEM quizzes and upcoming marathons.
“We have a spelling contest where children as young as Grade five to seven participate. We have a stem quiz that we are running for children from high school and we have a marathon that we are having on 19 October 2024,” said the Chief librarian.
“These activities are to bridge the gap of literacy, everyone should be literate and everyone should be able to read, that’s why we are asking the public to come in and help us keep the library afloat.”
