Tongaat disinfects Chiredzi Town Masvingo Bureau

THE Chiredzi District Covid-19 taskforce has partnered sugar manufacturer, Tongaat Hulett’s health division to disinfect public areas in the sugar cane growing town and surrounding areas, as part of efforts to combat the spread of the pandemic.

The two parties recently launched a massive disinfection of the town’s main hotspots to curb the spread of the deadly disease.

Areas that were fumigated included the Chiredzi city centre, the long distance bus terminus, Chiredzi General Hospital, the Polyclinic, Chiredzi Police Station and the local fresh produce market.

The exercise came after the extension of the nationwide lockdown period to May 3.

Community leaders here commended the move by Tongaat Hulett to try and mitigate the scourge of Covid-19.

“We welcome the efforts made by Tongaat Hulett,” said District Development Officer Lovemore Chisema.

“Thank you for your unwavering support and the contributions you have made so far in the fight against coronavirus.”

Chiredzi Town Council chairperson Gibson Hwende hailed the company saying: “Tongaat Hulett has contributed much to Chiredzi Town Council as part of their corporate social responsibility programme.

“Apart from the Covid-19 control assistance, they are currently helping with water treatment, provision of back up electricity at the water works, renovation of a council run Polyclinic and now they are sanitising our town.”

Tongaat Hulett recently provided the country with 300 000 litres of ethanol for the production of hand sanitisers.

The firm also provided protective clothing and temperature guns to all seven hospitals in Chiredzi district, as well as Buffalo Range Airport and Sango Border Post.

The sugar making giant has equipped five Covid isolation centres in Masvingo and extended a further $12 million to the Covid-19 national disaster fund.

Tongaat Hulett corporate affairs and communication executive Ms Adelaide Chikunguru said the company was committed to the fight against the disease and promised that the sanitisation exercise would be done at least twice a week at various hotspots in Chiredzi.

Ms Chikunguru urged residents to abide by the lockdown measures by practising social distancing and good hygiene.