MIDWEEK REPORTER
MASVINGO-Chivi born land developer and philanthropist, Professor Kudakwashe Taruberekera, the brains behind Craft Properties has decided to trace his roots back by gifting people with disabilities with wheelchairs in his home province of Masvingo.
The Midweek Watch got the sweet news from a letter from Craft Properties written to Masvingo City Council social services official Alice Mashinge who is organising the handover ceremony to be held at the Civic Centre on Friday.
When contacted by this reporter, Mashinge said they are still finalising the handover ceremony program and was not at liberty to share the details of the novel event by the Kadoma based Prof Taruberekera as senior council management was away on business.
“Yes the program is still on, on Friday(7/6/24), unfortunately senior council management is not in office and I cannot share with you the details before they have sight of the program and are yet approve it,” said Mashinge.
“RE: NOTIFICATION OF INTENT TO VOLUNTARILY ASSIST PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES – DONATION OF WHEELCHAIRS
Reference is made to the above subject. We are glad to have discussed the logistics of the referred matter this morning on the telephone.
“Allow us to assure you that the program is ongoing as per the initial plan. We have resolved to send the wheelchairs to Masvingo tomorrow (Thursday 30th May 2024) prior to coming to the event.
“May you please confirm if this is ok with you and if there is a secure place for them to be kept, awaiting the said event on Friday 7th June 2024.
“As per the telephone conversation, allow us to register our gratitude over your state of preparedness towards the logistics inclusive of notification and invitation of the relevant stakeholders to be present on the day,” reads part of the letter from Craft Properties written on May 29 to Mashinge.
Prof Taruberekera through his land developing company based in Kadoma, Craft Properties has been on a spree of donations to schools, PWDs and other vulnerable groups.
Of note is the recent construction of two classroom blocks at Easterlea Primary School in Sanyati which will be equipped with a computer lab, a rare feat at a public rural school in the country.
This answers to the clarion call by President Mnangagwa for the private sector to invest in the education sector by construction of schools as the sector has over US$4billion investment potential.
Easterlea Primary has no permanent structure as the children are learning from under shades exposing them to the vagaries of the weather.
The first block is at roof level while the other one is at foundation level and very soon the blocks will be habitable and fully equipped with computer labs.
Craft Properties, which is developing agro and residential stands in Kadoma has since spread its activities to corporate social responsibility programmes by building classrooms, clinics and drilling boreholes, among other initiatives.
The property developer has been assisting the less privileged members of the community including the elderly and child-headed families.
Craft Properties chief executive Prof Taruberekera said the project was part of the company’s efforts in contributing to country’s development in the education sector.
“All the work we are doing at Craft Properties (Pvt) Ltd is derived from the exemplary programmes at the rural district council, projects that we see in other countries where we are invited to take part in development initiatives and the unwavering support we are getting from the country’s leadership,” he said.
The project at Easterlea will also include the construction of modern toilets to replace pit latrines currently being used by learners and staff at the school.
“After construction of these two classroom blocks, a block of toilets and the drilling of a borehole, we intend to hand them over to the Sanyati Rural District Council.
“We are doing all these projects in support of the education system in our country as well as trying to curb dropouts at a number of schools, child marriages and other vices afflicting our communities,” Prof Taruberekera said.
Craft Properties recently donated 15 housing stands to the underprivileged with 10 going to people living with disabilities and five to people living with albinism.
