Mayor Hubert Fidze with some of the beneficiaries
Clever Taperamoyo
MASVINGO – Former Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) Member of Parliament (MP) for Masvingo Urban, Advocate Tongai Matutu last week Saturday organised a back-to-school charity event where he donated to orphaned and underprivileged school children.
The event, which happened at Boxing Arena in Mucheke and was facilitated by Dr Munyaradzi Chidarikire, saw 53 pupils receiving their full school fees for the term while others got satchels, counter books, khaki covers, socks and plastic covers among other goods.
Dr Chidarikire said the event was part of a programme which started with an earlier donation of school shoes to Early Childhood Development (ECD) pupils.
He said the donations were apolitical and plans were being made expand the list of beneficiaries in order to make sure that more deserving pupils get relief.
“We are planning to buy shoes for primary and secondary schools pupils. There are no political considerations that are made when we select beneficiaries; we just make an assessment to determine whether a pupil is really disadvantaged or not,” Dr Chidarikire said.
City of Masvingo mayor, Hubert Fidze said it was encouraging to note that the former legislator appreciated the need to reach out to the less privileged.
“I’m pleased with what the former Member of Parliament has done for our community considering the poor state of our economy. I wish we could have more of that kind of concern for those who are not as privileged as we are,” Fidze said.
Ratidzo Mazorodze, a parent to one of the beneficiaries, said the gesture had helped to lessen her worries now that the new school term has begun.
“As a parent I am happy. All the beneficiaries here are not at all in the best of circumstances and can hardly make ends meet. This is quite a relief and I will be able to see my child going back to school with others,” Mazorodze said.local
