NetOne corporate social responsibility spans all sectors

By Lovemore Chazingwa

Innovative information communication technology utility, NetOne has immensely invested in social corporate responsibility across communities and the nation at large.
In the past decade, NetOne has been on the forefront championing the elimination of hurdles facing people living with albinism.
The initiative on empowering and uplifting the livelihoods of people living with albinism has been spread across all corners of the country. This has ensured that this minority key population is not left behind in terms of equitable resource allocation and economic empowerment. The results have been resounding earning the parastatal another stripe on its shoulder.
In one grand partnership project on the same initiative, NetOne partnered with Hope for the Future Foundation, Zimbabwe Albino Movement Association (ZIMAS) and Albino Charity Organization of Zimbabwe (ALCOZ).
This partnership has spread a battery of assistance models for this marginalized group making a strong statement on inclusivity, at the same time, staying alert to the plight of this demographical seam.
The larger spectrum of this CSR hand has extended health support through the provision of sun protection and other healthcare provisions. This partnership that NetOne is proudly a part of has donated essential supplies to safeguard the health of individuals with albinism. These donations include sunscreen lotions, lip balms, and sun hats to protect against skin damage and reduce the risk of skin cancer.
The strong partnership has also settled on awareness campaigns. Aggressive awareness campaigns are meant to conscientize all sectors of society including the very people living with albinism. Information remains key as some of the directly affected individuals and families are blind to sources of assistance, safer lifestyle patterns and empowerment apparatus.
On a broader perspective, NetOne and its affiliates run countrywide awareness campaigns to demystify albinism, fighting stigma, discrimination, and marginalization. The core message of the campaign is ‘#BeKindItsNotACurse’.On ICT empowerment, digital inclusion and empowerment remain vital especially in this era of artificial intelligence (AI). Beyond healthcare, NetOne aims to integrate people with albinism into the ICT sector by offering competitive opportunities to ensure equal access in all facets of society.
A highly celebrated intervention on the entertainment calendar is the Miss and Mr Albinism Zimbabwe pageant that is bankrolled and organized by NetOne. This pageant has restored confidence, hope and a reason to shine for people living with albinism. When the section of society felt marginalized, NetOne found it prudent to run an exclusive pageant that underscored the acknowledgement of space for this group of society. Just like a precursor, Miss Rural Zimbabwe which gave a voice to the rural girl, the Miss and Mr Albinism Zimbabwe has found a dominant domain on a population deemed marginalized and disadvantaged. The Miss Rural Zimbabwe concept was ably replicated by NetOne, much to the applause of the Zimbabwean society at large.
Chief executive, Raphael Mushanawani underscored NetOne’s continued support for the marginalized and disadvantaged groups through various initiatives across the country.
“As NetOne under our corporate social responsibility initiatives, we have supported marginalized and disadvantaged groups including those living with albinism in communities we operate in around the country.
“NetOne, through its management, will continue to support people living with albinism. Today we have been privileged to make this event (Miss and Mr Albinism Zimbabwe) a success,” said chief executive Mushanawani at a recent pageant held at Longchen Plaza in Harare.
The parastatal continues to support environmental and habitat cleanliness through participation in the monthly Presidential National Clean-Up Campaign Day incepted by H.E President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa in December 2018. The main thrust of the National Clean-Up Campaign Day is cultivating a culture of healthy, clean habitats that ensure good health and well being for communities. The communications company is on record deploying large workforce teams and mobilizing members of society to participate in the visionary national initiative.
On record, the company has mobilized its workforce in the capital, Bulawayo, Mutare, Chinhoyi and Gweru at one go to help clean the environment. Such is a demonstration of commitment and buy-in to socially empowering initiatives meant to benefit society in the long run.
“At NetOne, we believe in a sustainable future for our country. Environmental conservation is not just a responsibility, it is a necessity if we are to secure a better tomorrow for future generations,” commented CE Mushanawani on one Friday occasion after the Presidential Clean-Up Campaign.
On a more business scale, the corporate runs a couple of promotions that help sound good in the customers’ pockets.
The good part is that while some service providers focus on profits, NetOne is geared to provide affordable products to the market. As a parastatal, its mandate is to serve communities without profiteering and the company is operating within its terms of reference. That operating model has brought smiles to the generality of stakeholders as they can access products at affordable rates.
Products and promotions have been consistently available and affordable hence, the justification for NetOne existence on the ICT radar. OneFusion, OneFlex, OneMoney,
Freedom Bundles, Dollar-A-Day (DAD) are some of the popular products on the market extensively benefiting customers.
MoGigs and Value Bundle remain prominent promotions bringing savings and value for money to clients.
The benefits have a purchasing power dividend as customers and businesses can use or invest the money saved on other products and ventures.
The Presidential Golf Tournament, with NetOne as the main sponsor comes in to support young, amateur and professional seasoned sportsmen, at the same time anchoring national initiatives. It goes without saying that such investments nurture sportspersons and administrators of note.
In the final analysis, NetOne remains sensitive to the market and its existential paradigm so as to remain on the radar for product availability and affordability.
The notion that NetOne is a a ‘Digital Solutions Network’ remains evident for all to witness.