In the community

Steward Bank partners Foundation to end period poverty

Published

4 years ago

August 4, 2021

BY OWN CORRESPONDENT

Zimbabwe’s largest bank by depositors, Steward Bank, has joined forces with Kunashe Foundation to end period poverty in the country by supplying reusable sanitary wear to underprivileged girls.

A recent study by SNV Zimbabwe revealed that 72 percent of menstruating schoolgirls do not use sanitary pads because they cannot afford them resulting in the unhygienic use of rags and cow dung.

This not only affects the girls’ health, but also strips them of confidence and dignity.

Steward Bank’s head of corporate affairs, Nyasha Choga, said the bank decided to chip in after realising that many girls in Zimbabwe are at risk of developing infections and suffering the embarrassment of leakages and discomfort due to lack of clean sanitary wear.

“Hunhu/Ubuntu, as knitted into our model of business, calls for the expression of compassion, reciprocity, and actions that bestow dignity and humanity to the community,” Choga said.

“ We value the privilege of contributing towards the efforts to keep girls in school and equip women to make reusable pads for their families and communities as a means of income generation.”

In support of Kunashe Foundation’s vision to provide information and access to sustainable sanitary wear, Steward Bank responded with $300 000.00 in May 2021 to fund over 1 000 girls in the form of a charitable grant.

Subsequently, the Foundation distributed reusable pads, which can be used for up to three years, to 262 girls in Glenview, Glen Norah, Epworth, Hatcliffe and Highfields and at St David’s children’s home (Nyanga), Shalom Children’s home, Danai Children’s home, St Marcelin’s children’s home and at Chikurubi Maximum Prison.

Kunashe Foundation said the strategic partnership with Steward Bank will go a long way in empowering women and girls across the country in helping them gain access to reproductive health rights and restoring human dignity and confidence.

Period poverty generally forces many girls to miss out on important confidence-building experiences in the classroom or in after-school activities.

Missing out on things like this can limit girls from reaching their full potential during puberty and beyond.

The foundation not only seeks to provide sanitary wear but to also improve the lives of women and girls through the provision of reliable information on women’s health as well as related access to essential products and services.

In line with its objective, the team conducted menstrual hygiene management training at Chisipite Senior School with the Leo Club, where participants were also taught the art of making reusable pads using sewing machines.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, in-person training for the bigger groups was not possible. As a solution, easy-to-understand training packs in the form of guide books, pamphlets, e-fliers, and video content were provided in both instances.

In the community

Painted Dog Conservation and Uncommon bring free coding school to Gwai Valley Primary

Published

5 days ago

October 2, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Painted Dog Conservation (PDC), in partnership with technology-driven organisation Uncommon, is set to establish a free coding school at Gwai Valley Primary in Lupane District, marking a new chapter in community empowerment and education.

Speaking during an interview with VicFallsLive, PDC operations director, David Kuvawoga said the initiative stems from the organisation’s long-term work with local schools through its children’s bush camps.

“In our quest to find solutions to the poaching crisis, and building on the work we’ve done with schools over the years, we identified Gwai Primary as a good location to start a coding school,” he explained. “We partnered with Uncommon, which already runs facilities in Harare and Victoria Falls, to bring this opportunity closer to rural communities.”

The school will be housed in container units equipped with computers and other necessary technology. According to PDC, the project will be led by youths from the Gwai community who underwent year-long training in Victoria Falls and are now prepared to teach children — and adults — the fundamentals of coding.

“This is not just for schoolchildren,” the operations director said. “Anyone in the community with the passion to learn can join. What matters is the interest and commitment, not formal qualifications.”

Importantly, the programme will be free of charge. Both organisations confirmed that tuition, equipment, and running costs are fully covered through fundraising efforts.

“No one is going to pay a cent,” he said. “Just like our bush camps, which host over a thousand children every year without charge, this coding school is fully funded. All the community needs to do is embrace it.”

PDC has previously supported communities through projects such as boreholes and gardens, but this marks its first major investment in technology. The director said the initiative has the potential to address unemployment, improve education, and give local youth world-class digital skills.

“Coding is a highly sought-after skill across the world,” he noted. “If young people here can learn it, they can secure jobs or even create employment for others. This is a brick in the foundation of uplifting Lupane, Hwange, and beyond.”

The coding school is expected to open in December at Gwai Valley Primary.

In the community

Lupane police officer sentenced for tampering with mbanje evidence

Published

2 weeks ago

September 26, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A 21-year-old constabulary officer in Lupane has been convicted after admitting he tampered with evidence in a drug possession case, effectively helping a suspect conceal part of the stash.

The officer, Nqobile Mutale, was on duty at Lupane Terminus Base on the 18th of September when he arrested Thulani Sibanda, who had been implicated in unlawful possession of dagga/imbanje. Instead of handing over the full exhibit, Mutale struck a deal with Sibanda and hid part of the recovered drugs behind the police base.

Detectives later uncovered the hidden dagga, with Mutale leading them to the site during investigations.

Standing before the Lupane Magistrates’ Court, Mutale pleaded guilty to obstructing the course of justice. He was handed a 24-month sentence, with nine months suspended. The balance of 15 months was also suspended, provided he completes 525 hours of community service.

In the community

Avoid nightime movement and stoning elephants, communities told

Published

3 weeks ago

September 17, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Following a recent spate of human-wildlife conflict incidents, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority spokesperson Tinashe Farawo has urged communities to exercise caution when encountering wild animals.

Farawo emphasized the importance of avoiding confrontations with elephants, particularly when they encroach into community areas. “We would like to urge members of the communities to avoid throwing stones at elephants,” he said. “This action agitates them, leading to attacks on people.”

In addition to avoiding confrontations, Farawo advised community members to minimize movement at night, as this is when wild animals are most active. “We would like to urge communities to avoid moving at night to minimize casualties,” he said.

Farawo’s comments come after a 79-year-old man from Hwange was killed by an elephant yesterday. The incident is still under investigation by rangers. This is the second fatal incident in the area, following the death of another man who was attacked by an elephant while on his way to work in Hwange town several weeks ago.