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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko’s wife, Laurinda yesterday donated sanitary pads and children’s diapers at Mlondolozi Female Prison located within Khami Prison Complex.

Mrs Mphoko said the sanitary pads, cotton wool and diapers worth nearly $2,000 were contributed by Choppies staff who responded to pleas for help from the prison.

She challenged other companies and organisations to take a leaf from Choppies supermarkets to assist inmates.

“God loves charity work. Jesus Christ our saviour also walked among us.  He is quoted to have said ‘I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, I was hungry you didn’t feed me, I was in prison and you didn’t visit me’.

‘‘So when we’re doing such work it doesn’t mean we’ve to bring a lot of things.  The little things that we do give joy to the Lord,” she said.

“We encourage shop owners and those who are capable to come and assist as there are many problems that need to be solved.

‘‘I’ll also take this opportunity to thank all the customers of Choppies who have made it possible that we have such a donation.”

Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services staff office administrator Superintendent Marggie Chibwana told The Chronicle that they were having challenges in looking after prisoners’ children. “We’re having challenges with babies of inmates.

‘‘When babies reach one year eight months or one year six months we assume that the [Department of] Social Welfare will take the babies to their relatives.

‘‘But the relatives don’t come forward to accept the babies,” said Supt Chibwana. She said it was not ideal for children to grow up in prison.

She expressed gratitude to Choppies supermarkets for the donation but appealed for more assistance from the corporate world saying female prisoners were facing numerous challenges.

“We also have a uniforms challenge, we don’t have the materials for the uniforms, cooking oil, soap to bath.

‘‘We appreciate what has been done by Choppies together with mama (Mrs Mphoko) who donated sanitary wear but we also need soap to bath.  We need cooking oil to feed them well,” said Supt Chibwana.