Mining Firm Donates 500 Items to Hatcliffe Orphanage

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare

Tichakunda Orphanage in Hatcliffe, Harare, has received more than 500 items from mining contractor T&A Drilling & Blasting, providing much-needed relief to a children's home struggling with dwindling donations.

The donation comes at a difficult time for the institution, which reportedly last received assistance three to four months ago as support for children's homes becomes increasingly difficult to secure. The contribution was organised by T&A Drilling & Blasting, a subsidiary of Koketso Investments, in partnership with the Apostolic Women Empowerment Trust (AWET). It comprised food, clothing, sanitary wear, toiletries and school stationery, addressing some of the children's immediate household, personal care and educational needs.

Speaking to Zimpapers, T&A Drilling & Blasting Site Manager Engineer Hazel Karoro said the visit was the result of deliberate planning and collaboration. "Coming here today was not a last-minute decision but it was the result of deliberate planning and collaboration," she said. Karoro said the initiative was also intended to encourage the children to pursue education and careers that would enable them to contribute to the country's development.

"We will be having engineers by 2030, some of them would have been done with university and others will be working towards attaining their A-level," she said. She said the company viewed the programme as part of its corporate social responsibility and contribution towards Zimbabwe's Vision 2030 development agenda.

Private Sector Urged to Support Vision 2030

Koketso Investments Maintenance Planner Bonganj Chidamba said the private sector had an important role to play in achieving the country's development objectives. "Koketso Investments recognises that Vision 2030 is a national commitment that requires active participation from the private sector," he said.

Chidamba added that the group's involvement in civil engineering and construction also positioned it to contribute to infrastructure development. He said infrastructure investment was essential for industrial growth, attracting investment and improving service delivery.

Donations Becoming Increasingly Difficult to Secure

For Tichakunda Welfare Organisation, which operates the orphanage, the donation provided relief amid growing difficulties in securing assistance. Board member, administrator and school principal Lloyd Chuhumwi said donations had become less frequent, placing pressure on the institution's ability to meet the children's needs. "It was easier before, but with the current situation in our country, donations are not easy to come by," he said.

The home currently looks after 29 children, with all its staff members serving as volunteers, according to Chuhumwi. He said the latest contribution had eased some of the challenges facing the institution. "Once we get such kind of donations, we feel very happy because it has solved so many of our problems," he said.

Chuhumwi also revealed that approximately three-quarters of the pupils at the home's school were orphans or vulnerable children, a situation he said had affected enrolment. The donation highlights the growing importance of partnerships between businesses, charitable organisations and community institutions in supporting vulnerable children.

For the 29 children at Tichakunda, the food, clothing, toiletries and school supplies represent more than material assistance. They provide some breathing room for an institution whose ability to support its children increasingly depends on the generosity of well-wishers.

Tichakunda Orphanage donation