By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Delta Corporation on Thursday commissioned a new green house at Melfort Old People’s Home after it was gutted by fire within two months of operation last year.
The replacement of the 500 square meter green house will go a long way in sustaining the lives of some 20 residents at the home and staff.
In commissioning the green house, Patricia Murambinda, General Manager, Corporate Affairs at Delta Corporation, said the green house would assist in generating revenue for the home.
“As Delta corporation, I think as a good corporate citizen, we felt that after commissioning something within two months and it was gutted by fire so it was important to go back and restore that green house.
“Why it was important for us, we talk about sustainability as a company and thesedays most people are talking about environment, societal and governance (ESG). And when we talk about sustainability where we go as Delta people should be sustainable and not rely 100 percent on donors.
“That is what motivated us here at Melfort Old People’s Home where they grow vegetables and we have a big buyer of our produce Sunspurn which delivers vegetables to various supermarkets across Harare. When the green house was gutted, it meant the project had stopped. So, there was no money coming and that money helps us in acquiring medication for the elderly. At present no donors are bringing medication. Our donors used to come from Europe but nowadays there are no more donors so we have to be self-reliant.
“So, the money we get from that project is the same money we use to pay our staff. Because they deal with the elderly it is sensitive, its part of the responsibility that we have as a board here to ensure that our employees are well looked after so that they also look after the elderly.
“We do get quite a lot of support from the government through the department of social welfare but the money usually comes once in a quarter so as we wait for the disbursement, we have to make money elsewhere,” Murambinda who is also the board chairperson at Melfort Old People’s Home said.
Murambinda also thanked Delta Corporation Financial director Alex Makamure for being supportive of the elderly.
Melfort Old People’s home is run by Catholic Church and Vicar General Father Kenneth Muguti, said growth was not how much one amasses but what one gives.
He hailed Delta Corporation for its Corporate Social Responsibility programme saying it was part of evangelizing. Melfort Old People’s Home in Ruwa is home to 18 male residents and two females with the oldest being aged 103.
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