BUSINESS WRITER
Zimbabwe’s fixed telecommunications network operator, TelOne, is expanding its nursery and orchard project to several prisons across the country as part of efforts to empower inmates to become self-sufficient.
The initiative was launched last year at Chikurubi Prisons Farm but will now be expanded to other prisons, beginning with Marondera and Hwahwa prisons before year-end.
The expansion was revealed by TelOne ‘s head of corporate communications, Melody Harry, who spoke at a media open day function at Chikurubi Prisons Farm on Friday.
She said under the project, TelOne will provide seedlings, while prisons will gain financially through selling of the seedlings.
“TelOne is excited to announce that it is expanding its Prisons nurseries and orchards project as part of its corporate social investment programme. The expansion will see the increase in the orchard size and nursery capacity at Chikurubi and the establishment of similar facilities at Marondera and Hwahwa Prisons,” Harry said.
She added: “The project which started as an environmental intervention through tree planting with an establishment donation of 10,000 seeds and seedlings for a variety of trees and water system establishment is aimed at helping inmates to be self-sufficiency in the long run.”
Chikurubi, Harry said was the hub, which has started producing seedlings. The seedlings will be handed over to other prisons for orchard establishment to mark this year’s tree planting day.
