SYDNEY MUBAIWA
GUTU- Barmlo Group of Companies, one of the country’s largest firms with interests in construction, building materials supply and brick moulding has handed over a house to Gutu comedian Tobias born Obey Rungwe worth $13 000.
The house was constructed by Barmlo Investments as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Barmlo Investments Barnabas Marambire personally turned up at Rungwe Village under Chief Makore on Saturday to hand over the keys and the house to Tobias.
Marambire told those gathered for the ceremony that the company decided to gift Tobias, a humble and talented content creator a 2 bedroomed house as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility programme.
“I feel honoured to be part of this hand over ceremony.
“As Barmlo Investments, it is now in our DNA to construct a house for the less privileged members of the community every year. Last year, we were in Nyanga and this year we are here in Gutu.
“This initiative is part of Barmlo Investments’ Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. This beautiful house was constructed for Tobias free of charge,” he said.
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Marambire urged members of the community to emulate Tobias as there is always a reward for humble beginnings, equating his own life experiences to Tobias’.
“My poor background inspired me to take this philanthropic route and I want to thank God for this opportunity.
“I saved from the little that I got from looking after cattle and registered my company and it has been growing gradually. So I decided to give back to the community and every year we decided to construct a house for the less privileged each year,” he said.
He said the company was going to continue supporting vulnerable members of the community across the country.
In his remarks, Tobias’ father Constantino Rututuva Rungwe said Barmlo Investments has made the family proud.
“I want to thank Barmlo Investments for this generous gesture. The company made us proud. We have shifted from dust to tiles, from thatched huts to this beautiful structure. Tobias my son, through your friends Barmlo Investments you have made us proud, ” he said.
In an interview after the event, Tobias thanked Barmlo Investments for the generous gesture encouraging the company to continue supporting the less privileged.
“I want to thank Barmlo Investments for this generous gift. It could have taken me years to achieve this. The company has made us proud, I am now a man. This generous gift should not end with me. May God continue to bless Barmlo Investments with growth prospects and continue supporting vulnerable members of the community across the country,” he said.
The 2- roomed house has policiline tiles, aluminum windows, fisherboards and a solar system.
Barmlo has over 500 employees and is spreading its wings across the border into Botswana and Zambia.
Barmlo Construction offers flexible construction packages like pay as you go, which allows clients to pay for labour and materials per stage as work progresses.
The company also offers Kumusha Development Scheme (KDS), a fix and supply facility with tailor made payment terms.
In addition, the company also offers advance payments, where customers will be paying monthly installments towards their projects with work commencing once a predetermined amount is reached per stage.
The company started in 2011 with two branches in Mberengwa district and has now expanded nationwide.
