By Flata Kavinga
Kwekwe mayor Cllr Albert Zinhanga has called on residents and businesses in the city to emulate Pick n Pay’s community support initiatives by assisting vulnerable members of society.
Speaking during the handover of 100 blankets donated by Pick n Pay Kwekwe to Kwekwe General Hospital, Cllr Zinhanga said the gesture went beyond a donation as it would bring comfort and warmth to patients during the cold season.
“What you have done today, you did not only help the community, but you have saved 100 people. You have saved thousands of people. These blankets are going to be helping a lot of people,” he said.
Cllr Zinhanga encouraged Pick n Pay to continue with the initiative, saying such acts of kindness had a significant impact on communities.
He also urged residents to support people facing hardships by donating items they no longer need.
“This should be replicated by what we also do to the communities that we live in. If you have blankets which you are not using this winter, let us find a neighbour who is in need,” he said.
The mayor said his office had witnessed several cases of families struggling to access basic necessities, highlighting the need for communities to support each other.
He cited a recent case involving a family in Mbizo where a woman and her five children were reportedly living under difficult conditions without adequate warm clothing and other basic needs.
Cllr Zinhanga said such challenges demonstrated the importance of community-driven interventions.
“Some people don’t open up when they have challenges even when you have helped them. Such is the kind of community that we are living in,” he said.
He commended Pick n Pay for its corporate social responsibility efforts, saying the donation would benefit patients at the health institution.
Kwekwe General Hospital medical superintendent Dr Tinashe Gunda said the donation would help improve the comfort and dignity of patients receiving care at the institution.
He said the blankets came at an important time as temperatures had dropped, adding that keeping patients warm was part of quality healthcare.
“While medical treatment is at the core of our business, comfort and dignity are also essential components of healing. These blankets would go a long way in ensuring that our patients remain warm, comfortable and cared for during their stay at our hospital,” said Dr Gunda.
Pick n Pay Kwekwe branch manager Tapiwa Chakanyuka said the donation was part of the supermarket’s Winter Warmer Blanket Drive initiative aimed at giving back to communities.
He said the company believed in supporting communities beyond its commercial activities.
“Today we are not just giving blankets, but we are sharing warmth, care and love. These blankets will assist in bringing warmth to patients this winter,” Chakanyuka said.
He said the initiative was made possible through support from customers and suppliers.
The donation was received by Kwekwe General Hospital management, with officials saying the blankets would benefit patients from Kwekwe and surrounding areas.
