Harare, 19 July 2021

Coca-Cola’s Women’s LINC Zimbabwe Chapter has today officially handed over items worth over 500,000 Zimbabwe dollars to resuscitate a much needed poultry project at Mutemwa Leprosy Centre in Mutoko District of Mashonaland East. The items donated to the Centre include 300 points of laying chickens, one and a half tonnes of layers feed, nine 12 litre waterfronts, nine ribbed tube feeders and stress packs that will help the centre provide members with the required source of protein and revenue.

“For over 50 years, the Coca-Cola Company has led a true commitment to showcasing the unlimited potential of individuals with intellectual disabilities and the power of sport to bring people together and transform lives.,” said Patricia Murambinda, Coca-Cola Women’s Linc Zimbabwe Chapter President and General Manager, Corporate Affairs at Delta Corporation.

“The donation is to help restore human dignity and take care of our community members affected by leprosy and their dependents, who have been neglected and discriminated by their families and society on account of the disease. The poultry project will provide the much-needed protein for all at the centre as well as revenue for other essential needs,” said Patricia Murambinda, Coca-Cola Women’s Linc Zimbabwe Chapter President and General Manager, Corporate Affairs at Delta Corporation.

The donation is coming just two months after the Coca-Cola Women’s Linc handed over a fully furnished block of four classrooms and a modern office to Cheuchi Primary School, a satellite-rural school in Makonde district in Mashonaland West.

“This is a fulfilment of our burning desire as caring sisters, mothers and daughters to the community of Mutemwa. We realised the Mutemwa community needed a project that can bring forth other developments,” added Patricia.

‘Thank you for becoming more aware of those in need, especially the poor, the sick and vulnerable, including those stigmatised and abandoned by society like Mutemwa Leprosy Centre members. We are happy to work towards self-sufficiency through farming, rearing poultry, pigs and cattle and this donation is a great contribution towards this end,” said Father Linus Mukumbuzi, Mutemwa Leprosy Centre Administrator.

Mutemwa is home to more than 50 elderly residents, including people affected by leprosy, leprosy disability and society outcasts. Mutemwa attends to around 1, 200 outpatients per year and supports others who are homeless and destitute. The centre provides physical, material, psychological and emotional care to post leprosy sufferers, the physically and mentally challenged and the needy.

The Women’s LINC is a network of women employed in the Coca-Cola system focused on engaging, inspiring and developing them to drive total business performance and establish a strong reputation as a great place to work for women. The initiative empowers women so that they can also enable others and influence their environments. The Zimbabwe LINC chapter draws its membership from The Coca-Cola Company, Delta Beverages and Schweppes Zimbabwe Limited.

The Coca-Cola Women’s LINC was established to enhance the attraction, engagement and development of female colleagues through opportunities such as industry panels, networking events, mentoring, and community engagement which forms the heart and soul of our operations.