By Fanuel Chinowaita
NetOne’s annual Christmas Cheer initiative reached thousands of vulnerable citizens across Zimbabwe this festive season, with senior government officials joining the mobile operator in a series of community-focused programmes held in Midlands, Manicaland and Matabeleland South.
The outreach, which targeted elderly citizens, child-headed families and low-income households, was conducted in Gokwe, Chipinge and Bulilima.
It combined food aid, social support, and anti-drug awareness activities in what organisers described as an effort to promote inclusive development in line with national priorities.
In Gokwe, one of the first stops on the campaign trail, community members received food hampers and spent time with teams from NetOne and local leadership.
Officials said the initiative was designed not only to offer material support, but also to affirm solidarity with families facing socioeconomic hardships.
The programme then moved to Chipinge’s Musikavanhu Constituency, where Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Angeline Gata hosted the event. Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate and Wildlife John Paradza attended as Guest of Honour.
Deputy Minister Gata said the initiative demonstrated the importance of community-centred development, especially for vulnerable groups.
“What we witnessed here is the true spirit of nation-building. To see our elderly and vulnerable smiling with renewed dignity reminds us why inclusive development matters. This Christmas Cheer initiative uplifts more than households — it uplifts the soul of our communities. We are grateful and we are encouraged,” she said.
The Chipinge programme also incorporated drug and substance abuse awareness under the Say No to Drugs campaign led by MenBelieved. Local leaders described the approach as a strategic effort to combine welfare support with youth-oriented social protection.
In Matabeleland South, the campaign reached Bulilima’s Ntunungwe Village, where NetOne officials and community leaders recognised 122-year-old Anuloisa Banda, who is believed by villagers to be Zimbabwe’s oldest living citizen. His family expressed gratitude for the gesture, which they said reaffirmed the importance of supporting senior citizens in rural areas.
Deputy Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Dingumuzi Phuti attended the Bulilima event and commended NetOne for extending assistance to remote communities.
NetOne Group CEO Eng. Raphael Mushanawani said the initiative aligned with national development aspirations as the country moves from the National Development Strategy 1 to NDS2.
“As we move from NDS1 into NDS2, our mandate is clear: development must be people-centred, empowering and inclusive. Christmas Cheer is not an event — it is a philosophy. It reminds us that progress cannot be measured only by infrastructure, but by the upliftment of every Zimbabwean. Giving back is not an obligation for us; it is a privilege and a commitment to national transformation,” he said.
The programme concluded with organisers highlighting that no province or community should be left behind as Zimbabwe pursues its development goals.
NetOne said it will continue expanding its social responsibility initiatives in 2026, with particular emphasis on rural outreach and youth-focused programmes.