Zimbabwe: Chinese Tobacco Firms Donate to Home

Source from:  The Herald 12/08/2009

Two Chinese tobacco firms have pledged to contribute towards relief aid and community development during their five-year period of investment in the country. The two companies, China Tobacco Yunnan Corporation and China Tobacco Zimbabwe Tianze, collectively donated foodstuffs worth US$3 000 to Hupenyu Hutsva Children's Home on Thursday. Speaking at a handover ceremony, director-general of China Tobacco Yunnan Corporation Mr Yu Yundong said the industry would commit its efforts towards humanitarian aid in Zimbabwe. "We are going to make lots of efforts towards social responsibility and today we have brought gifts for these children," he said. The donated items included mealie-meal, cooking oil, flour, snacks and several condiments worth US$3 000. Mr Yan Shao, the general manager of China Tobacco Zimbabwe Tianze Company, said his company would plough back profits from the investments by assisting the community. "China tobacco industry has come to Zimbabwe to do business for five years and we have this principle that what we get from the society we should return. "What we are doing here is in line with Chinese policy in Africa and we are not only assisting this institution, but we will engage in community development projects like building classrooms in some local schools," said Mr Shao. Hupenyu Hutsva Children's Home in Highfield, Harare, which has 20 staff members, looks after 100 children. Enditem