SECURICO’S sustainability and community engagement programs focus on education, the environment, and women’s empowerment. SECURICO, in collaboration with the Forestry Commission as their technical partner in the regreening efforts started the celebration in October going around Zimbabwe where they have branches (thus in Bindura, Masvingo, Mutare, Gweru, Bulawayo). We met their business development manager Anna Mukuze, in one of the events who could not hide her excitement citing that SECURICO’s sustainability agenda took them to 25 schools starting in Manicaland at Chikanga High School and ending at Chiedza Childcare Centre in Harare where they planted 25 trees at each of the 25 schools for the 4 weeks they went around. SECURICO founder and managing director Dr Divine Simbi-Ndhlukula accompanied by pioneers who have been there since the beginning and managers, did not miss any of these build-up celebrations dubbed “Our journey, our people, Delivering excellence since 1998.” When we caught up with Ndhlukula in Matabeleland region she said: “It was quite an exciting journey doing what we have focused on as a business on our community engagements — education, environment and women’s economic empowerment.” She went on to explain the things they learned as they went around the country to mark this milestone in their history interacting with the future leaders of tomorrow and most importantly planting trees and inspiring each other about key issues in life. Some of the lessons learned in her own words include:
•The current generations of learners are so schooled about the importance of trees. We got to hear from learners about the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement etc.
•We got huge lessons from primary school learners on things we never expected them to be knowledgeable about.
The nuggets to inspire learners to reach for the moon in their ambitions from the SECURICO MD were very clear, “Read, read, and read more, to widen your horizon. Believe in yourself and anything can be possible.” Ndhlukula extended her thanks to Team SECURICO, aka Team Manyama, the 25 schools who were so gracious to partner with them and the technical partner Forestry Commission and guest speakers in the different regions where they took time to meet clients over luncheons and cocktails. Students, teachers, and community members felt this was a significant impact. The SECURICO head of operations
Ernest Magama reiterated that: “We hope they will continue nurturing these trees and preserving our precious ecosystem for a sustainable future.” SECURICO’s involvement in the communities has been in its day-to-day operations since its inception. Some of the corporate social responsibility programs include mentorship, education of disadvantaged girls, bursaries to employees’ children, staff developmental programs, cleanup campaigns, donations of books to schools, and setting up of a library
in Gutu serving 8 000 students. in the catchment area.
