Tendai Charumbira
MASVINGO – State-owned telecommunications giant NetOne on June 13 joined hands with the Albinism Charity Organization (ALCOZ) in Zimbabwe to commemorate and celebrate International Albinism Day at Copota School for the Blind in Masvingo.
The 2022 commemorations ran under the hashtag ‘United In Making Our Voice Heard and Inclusion for Equality’.
The commemorations began with an awareness march from Masvingo CBD to Zimuto turn-off before the team proceeded to Copota Schools for the official ceremony.
At the event the company highlighted its interest in developing inclusive societies in the country.
Speaking at the event NetOne spokesperson Roselyn Chisveto said NetOne has supported different disadvantaged groups including people with Albinism and would continue with their interest in developing inclusive societies.
“As NetOne we don’t want to reinvent the wheel, our mantra is leaving no one behind. As an organization, we have supported different disadvantaged and marginalized groups including people living with Albinism and this has become part of our organisation’s DNA,” said Chisveto.
She added that Albinism is not a curse therefore the awareness campaign is being done nationwide to teach people not to discriminate people with Albinism.
“The awareness campaign seeks to educate people to desist from stigmatization and marginalization of people living with Albinism,” she added.
George Mafararikwa a representative of ALCOZ said Albinism is not common but is present at birth being lack of pigmentation in the hair, skin and eyes causing vulnerability to the sun.
“Albinism is rare but non-contiguous genetically inherited condition. It is present at birth and is a result of lack of pigmentation in the hair, skin and eyes causing vulnerability to sun and bright light, “said Mafararikwa.