BUSINESS WRITER
Zimbabwe’s fixed telecommunications network operator, TelOne has invested US$20,000 this year expanding the country’s prisons’ nursery and orchards project in a bid to empower inmates to become self-sufficiency.
The project started last year at Chikurubi Maximum Prison in the capital as an environmental intervention through tree planting. TelOne donated 10,000 seeds and seedlings together with water system establishments. The initiative is now spread to other prisons across the country, demonstrating TelOne’s commitment to socio-economic development.
Speaking on the side lines of a tree planting ceremony at Hwahwa Prison in Gweru on Friday, TelOne corporate services director Hopewell Zinyau told Business Times: “This year we have invested in excess of US$20,000 in the nursery project which include seeds, seedlings and water establishment to help inmates to have vitamins in their meals.”
He said the prisons will also benefit through selling seeds to help sustain themselves.
TelOne also donated some tree seedlings at Hwahwa.
“Today [Friday], we support the Hwahwa prison through a donation of 500 tree seedlings that will cover a hectare of their already existing orchard.”
