Econet is one of Zimbabwe’s largest companies, leading not only in the business sector but also on Sustainability issues. The organisation is the leading telecommunications provider with its branches in every province around the country. They have managed to bridge business with its environment and communities around it to make sure they leave no one behind.
The company has been helping communities through education, health, creating employment creation, among the many social empowering investments it has been doing over the years.
Below is a summary of the few amongst many activities they have done in the Midlands region.
Environmental sustainability:
- Econet participated in the National Tree Planting Day where a total of 1500 trees were planted to promote a cleaner, safer environment.
- they donated 20 refuse bins to the City of Gweru, Kwekwe, Zvishavane Shurugwi and Gokwe. In addition, they also donated an assortment of clean-up material towards the Presidential clean up initiative that included, dust masks, brooms, shovels and hoes.
Health:
- At the height of Covid -19, Econet Midlands region donated various items of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Gweru Provincial Hospital for use by medical staff. In addition to this, through their Vaya SBU, they provided free transport to medical staff at Gweru Provincial hospital which ensured an easy and safer mode of transport to health workers during covid.
Community empowerment:
- They donated food to 20 Christmas Food Hampers to Batanai Old people’s home and they also donated food worth usd1000 to Queen of Peace Children’s home.
- They sponsored the Victoria Falls Marathon. Apart from the wellness initiative, their idea is to identify and promote talent.
- Econet also has an ongoing initiative to recruit Brand Ambassadors in the Midlands region as part of efforts to support government towards employment creation. The company also takes on board those from disadvantaged backgrounds. To date the region has in excess of 500 Brand Ambassadors.
Education Support
- Promotion of access to Education for the less disadvantaged members of society with potential. To date the Midlands region has over 200000 students who have been sent to school through the Higher Life Foundation.
- Provide free Digital Learning through Akello, to ensure inclusivity in terms of participation and to reduce a digital divide especially with the less disadvantaged members of society. This initiative is made possible through their ongoing Network expansion effort.
- Provide free branding to their local Institutions and these include 5 High schools, Midlands State University, Mkoba Teachers College just to name a few.
Econet continues to support the communities in which they operate within through the rollout of network to areas with limited or no coverage. In the past 7 months of 2022, they have added a total of 150 base stations as well as upgrading the technologies from 3g to 4g because a lot of people especially employees, school children, etc were telecommuting during and beyond covid.
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