PROTON: AN EXAMPLE OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

When Proton bakery announced its entrance into the Bulawayo market a few weeks ago, Society 24 applauded the move as a huge endorsement of the city’s economy as an investment destination. We also noted the emphasis of Proton representatives on their aim to build mutually beneficial relationships with the community. 

After supporting Proton’s vision, Society 24 went a step further and monitored the baker’s initial footprint in the city based on their promise to walk the talk.  Below is a rundown of the major projects Proton has undertaken in Bulawayo during its first month of operation in Bulawayo.

According to the Business News Daily, contemporary customers expect high standards, which exceed quality products and services, from companies. As such, Business News Daily notes that ‘companies are not only expected to make profits but also operate responsibly to address social and environmental issues.’

Indeed Proton, as noted in previous articles, is exceeding expectations when it comes to product and service quality.

With regards to walking the extra mile, the bakers underlined their environmental awareness by donating ten rubbish bins to the Nkulumane community. 

“There is a real need for these litter bins in my constituency especially at clinics and shopping centres which will be prioritised during allocation,” said Nkulumane Member of Parliament Killian Sibanda upon receiving the waste disposal facilities. 

Nkulumane MP Killian Sibanda receives rubbish bins from Proton management

Society 24 views this as a critical contribution towards environmental preservation by Proton as they encourage proper handling of unwanted products like packaging which degrades the ecosystem if dumped. 

Proton also assumed community responsibility by supporting law enforcement initiatives in Bulawayo. In Particular, the bread maker partnered the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) when they re-launched their Client Service Charter in Njube suburb.  

The Charter encourages ZRP officers to be diligent in serving and safeguarding the public. Proton was present in solidarity, contributing through dressing some of the participants and giving prizes to officers awarded for excellence.

Client Service Charter procession dressed by Proton

Communities are always in need of recreation and entertainment which is usually attained through sport. Society 24 noticed that Proton was visible in various sporting activities, for example, contributing towards prizes for the Bulawayo Pool Association (BPA)’s Easter tournament, while dressing all umpires and officials for the competition. 

Mr and Ms ZITF was also a beneficiary of similar incentives to participants in an event which saw Proton partner Bulawayo powerhouses like PPC Zimbabwe in sponsoring the body building contest. 

Ms ZITF contestants on stage

Mr ZITF winners pose with their hampers from Proton

With such strides, Proton is definitely angling for a permanent seat at the elders table in business.

At the main show-grounds of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), Proton defied a general apathy from Bulawayo companies towards the exhibition and showcased for the first time at the 2017 edition.  

“I encourage local companies to exhibit at such fairs since their absence restricts them because they then miss out on a lot of business and partnerships which are both vital to survive in any cutthroat environment,” said Proton sales manager Simba Bodzo in the days preceding the exhibition. 

“In any case, how else can you make informed decisions?” he added.  

Proton brand ambassadors KVG and Phatisani at the ZITF Proton stand

To concur, Society 24 asks how else we, the consumers, can know you are serious about us if you never meet and initiate dialogue with us at such platforms?

Add employment prospects, which amount to hope for Bulawayo citizens, to this cocktail of social initiatives - all achieved in one month of operation - and no one would fault you for appreciating this new business in Bulawayo. 

Society 24 views the footprint of Proton in Bulawayo as a raised bar for other companies to mix business interest with contributions towards social benefit.- Society 24

PROTON SHAKES BULAWAYO

ONE would have been forgiven for thinking Proton Bakery was responsible for the earth tremors that hit Bulawayo this week.   

As if to cap off the launch of the bread maker’s entrance into the city, ripple effects of an earthquake which hit Botswana on Monday 3 April, shook Bulawayo just as Proton wrapped up introductory road shows and promotions in the city.

Although retrospective knowledge later confirmed that the vibrations were a Southern African phenomenon, Society 24 could not resist making the inference.

Established in 1961, Proton Bakery has been confined to the eastern regions of Zimbabwe, inadvertently, prejudicing the rest of the country benefits of competition between bakers. This is because Proton products are revered for maintaining quality regardless of business environment and as such Bulawayo can now enjoy refined service across the board as a result of the tug of war for customers.

Society 24 commends Proton for taking a leap of faith and investing in Bulawayo, a city touted as the graveyard of business.  Thus, the city yearns for similar investments which can raise it from slumber due to increased liquidity in a stuttering economy as a result of employment at any level.

With Bon Marche’ closing shop in the same week, Proton seemed to dilute the message of disinvestment which sucks dry any possibility of hope for prosperity in a city which was previously celebrated for a vibrant industry.  

When such companies as Proton enter a notoriously ailing city, take up real estate, provide employment and promise to spread its tentacles, it casts doubt on the mantra of hopelessness.

Expectations that more companies will follow suit are therefore not far-fetched.

Speaking to the media last week, Proton sales manager Simba Bodzo implored customers to support their brands and Society 24 agrees because as Bulawayo, we have the duty to support business and prove that it is safe to invest in us.

To Bulawayo, Proton therefore came as an earthquake to shutter all negative stereotypes which promote disinvestment from an otherwise pleasant city. We appreciate that.  

As for their products, from first impressions, Proton Bread did not disappoint – keep it up! and welcome to city of Kings and Queens. – Society 24

FAILING ECONOMY HURTS CHILDREN

Picture : Online

Growing up in Zimbabwe during the 80’s and 90’s was like a stroll through wonderland where children had endless fantasies, but, becoming a vendor was never one of them.

I met a group of primary school children in Bulawayo’s city centre on the last day of school, earlier this month, who were all jubilant showing a satisfaction that the school term was over and they had already switched to play mode.

As I watched them cross the street at a robot controlled intersection, I could not help but feel a nostalgic tug as I yearned for those carefree days when my fantasies gave me exciting experiences daily -  from being a pilot, transforming into Peter Ndlovu then to ‘Bret the hit man Hart’. The hypnotic state of euphoria I was experiencing while watching these children was bliss and I could feel myself smile with contentment.

While I enjoyed this view, the bubbly pupils edged closer to me but, when I heard what they were saying and I was jolted back to the reality of present day Zimbabwe, my heart sank.

“Screen guard yese dollar...dollar” shouted one, while another countered with “Umuthi wama gundwane lama wuwu dollar..... dollar,” sending the whole pack into stitches.

At that point, I remembered that children craft fantasies from observed experience and I understood that a failing national economy was failing the future.

Fantasies cultivate determination and motivation such that if a child dreams about being a doctor, accountant or journalist, they have a strong personal will to work towards that goal. They aim for the sky and even if they fail to reach the sky, their fall is broken by tree tops.

With a 90% unemployment rate, our children are inundated with various modes of informal employment like vendors, touts and thieves. This however does not mean they lose their creative impressionable talent and as such, they idolise those who best practise their informal trade.

 Gone are the days when children would want to be a teacher, nurse or policeman because these public officers no-longer command respect and trust which degenerates to awe in young minds. Now their very sensitive feelers sense resentment in adults when they see yet another roadblock and record every slouched move of their teachers as they wait to dismiss the class.

Children observe their way into resenting civil service because it depicts discontent from everyone including the servants themselves. What then do we expect when our children see vendors shouting their lungs out, cracking jokes and laughing to attract the next dollar?

Education has always been praised as the only treasure safe from thieves and robbers but has Zimbabwe not become the ultimate con artist by stealing even this personal jewel?

 Graduation time is upon the country once again bringing with it more questions.

Is there any pride in celebrating that degree or diploma and waking up the following morning disillusioned by the reality that the only open road is to the streets where that certificate on your living room wall becomes no better than the one you got at birth?

Maybe it is time parents taught their children to revere politics and work towards becoming the next government official whose work includes lies, more lies, pomp and funfare. Once they master political acumen, they could then buy half the country and own its citizens but are they not civil SERVANTS?

 Children of this generation watch their siblings, parents and even grandparents toil with lethargy to put food on the table – white collar or not - the struggle is the same.

Today we hear the elderly complain of moral decadence, lack of vision and many other vices in the young generation but on this day I realised the elders are to blame. - Society 24