Peter Tanyanyiwa
Food Manufacturing giant Associated Foods Zimbabwe producers of Mama’s Range of Products and Farmgold Range of Products on Tuesday pledged to provide support to Jairos Jiri homes, where many persons with disabilities and blindness reside. Currently Jairos Jiri has a total of 12 homes nation-wide.
Speaking at a small ceremony held on Tuesday to officialise the partnership at the Jairos Jiri national headquarters in Belvedere, Associated Foods Zimbabwe New Initiatives and Digital executive Mr Walter Machaka said they will be providing one home per month with some of the products that they produce.
“We are giving what we manufacture. Mama’s Peanut Butter, Mama’s Baked Beans, Mama’s Mixed Fruit Jam and other lines which includes snacks and cereals. We will be giving a home per month,” he said.
He went on to say that this will be a long-term partnership as they were moved by the need to support persons with disabilities, blindness and the vulnerable. Above all AFZ said they value corporate social responsibility.
“The partnership is long term, the main idea is to assist the disabled, blind and the vulnerable. Most importantly giving back to the community” said Machaka. As a sign of commitment AFZ brought a number of their products to this ceremony for the Jairos Jiri executives.
Mr Machaka said they are going to be supporting the following homes,
Kadoma School of Blind, Gweru Naran School for the Deaf, Harare Centre, Waterfalls Centre, Rusape, Bulawayo Vocational Skills Training Centre, Masvingo Vocational Training Centre, Mutoko-Mukombwe Primary, Mudzi-Nyamuwanga Primary, Bulawayo-Pumula Hostel, Zvishavane Home.
National Sales Manager Mr Jameson Jeche thanked Jairos Jiri Association for the good work that they are doing. He gave a background of how Associated Foods Zimbabwe started and its aim to be the leading food manufacturer in the region and beyond.
“We will continue to support communities that we operate in,” he said. The Jairos Jiri director Mr Wilson Ruvere thanked AFZ for their commitment and urged other corporates to also follow suit and give back to the community.
“We thank the generous support from AFZ, and from what I understand they will be supporting our 12 homes across the nation, catering for one home per month which is more that we can ever ask for.
“As Jairos Jiri we want to take time to thank the whole AFZ team, especially the AFZ Chief Executive Officer for such a wonderful gesture,” said Ruvere.