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Nyaradzo Bakari, Chronicle Reporter
MTHOMBOWESIZWE, Manyewu and Ntabeni Primary Schools in Bulawayo’s Entumbane suburb have received a donation of sanitary pads, stationery and sports equipment, amid calls to ensure that sanitary pads are provided for free.

Sanitary Pads Movement and Chigutiro Social Club donated books, sanitary pads, stationery and cricket equipment.

Speaking at the handover ceremony held at Mthombowesizwe Primary school on Monday, Sanitary Pads Movement founder Mr Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu, said the donation is a way of meeting the needs of under privileged children in society, especially girls.

“I realise some girls go into their menstrual period at the age of 10 so as a patron of this school I saw the need to reach out to those girls who stay with their grandparents and cannot afford to buy essentials like sanitary pads for themselves,” said Mr Zulu, who is also the coach of Highlanders Football Club juniors.

Mr Zulu said sanitary pads should be free.

“My wish is that one day we also have free sanitary pads in ladies toilets like we have free condoms. This movement will go a long way in restoring the dignity of our girl child. After all, sex is a choice while menstruation is natural so these girls deserve to get pads for free,” Mr Zulu said.

“I am asking people to look after the girl child. May parents take part in the campaign and give their child at least $0.10 to donate every month to buy pads for their schools. Let us be the first city in the world which looks after the girl child.”

He thanked schools like Petra and Carmel for providing some of the donated books.

Chigutiro Social Club secretary Mr Givemore Chigwada said the donation, including Early Childhood Development (ECD) materials and stationery, was a way of giving back to the community.

“As a local club we want to give back to the community by giving where we can so this is our contribution as a social club in the suburb,” said Mr Chigwada.

Bulawayo Provincial Education Deputy Director, Mr Mathias Luphahla, expressed gratitude to both organisations for the donation.

“This is a great occasion for us as the ministry as members of the community have come through to play their social responsibility role. We appreciate what Mr Zulu and his board have done, especially considering that it’s not only the mind in need but also the body through sport,” said Mr Luphahla.

“It is good that he chose cricket, a discipline that is not popular in many of our schools. This will motivate children to learn. We also appreciate the books. In as much as we are in the era of new technologies, there are other children who cannot access the internet for books or afford to go to the public library so we still need hard copy text books.”

@NyarieBakie