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Blessing Karubwa
IN a remarkable show of unity and vision, the Godlwayo community in Ward 7 of Insiza South District, Matabeleland South Province, has taken a monumental step towards improving local transportation by pooling resources and buying a community bus worth US$40 000.
A heartfelt tribute to unity and compassion, the newly acquired bus, named “Godlwayo Mbaulo Hands of Peace,” boasts a capacity of 75 passengers and symbolises the collective spirit of its generous financial contributors.
This significant investment, spearheaded by former students of Mbaulo Secondary School, promises to transform the daily lives of villagers who have long struggled with the limitations of night-only bus services.
With this new bus, community members will now have the freedom to travel during the day, facilitating access to essential services, employment opportunities, and social engagements that were previously hindered by inconvenient travel schedules.
The initiative not only enhances mobility but also fosters a sense of pride and togetherness among the people of Godlwayo, demonstrating the power of collective action in addressing local challenges.
In an interview, project visionary Ezweni Vigwa Moyo revealed that when he presented the idea for an income-generating project to his colleagues in August 2023, the villagers expressed different opinions.
He recognised the necessity of such an initiative not only to benefit the residents of Ward Seven but also to enhance the well-being of the entire Godlwayo community.
“We registered our organization as a company and have a joining fee of R1000 while each member contributes US$84 every month. We had challenges on the way, with some people pulling out, so we had to refund them their contributions.
“However, for the joining fee, we couldn’t because it was part of the paperwork costs when one joins.
“We opened a bank account so we contributed money from August 2023 up to January 2024 when we increased and agreed to fork out US$100 every month.
“We had assumed that by August this year our funds would permit us to purchase the bus, but because some members were leaving the club we had to refund them. We had a setback, and as a result, we contributed up to September this year and bought this bus,” said Moyo.
He shared his joy, adding that despite the challenging path, they are glad to have finally managed to build an income-generating initiative that would benefit the community for decades to come.
Moyo hailed villagers for their financial and moral support, citing that it is a sign that the Godlwayo community is united.
“When we started this project, only 13 Mbaulo former students came on board, yet we had expected about 20 to 25 people, so we got very disappointed because we knew that purchasing this bus demanded US$40 000.
“I went around and appealed for some members who were not former students of that school, and fortunately, they agreed to join our group. So, we became 25 before some pulled out, and later on, our number decreased to 21, which was a disappointing setback to the whole group,” he said.
The bus, Moyo said, started service last Saturday and runs six days a week from Bulawayo to Mberengwa.
He said the bus will also travel through Filabusi, Mahole, Silalatshani, Sidzibe, Nyamine, Thokozani, Mavagwe, Maxolweni, and Mbaulo before reaching its final destination of Maranda.
According to Moyo, the company is prepared to purchase an additional bus in order to provide service to the entire Godlwayo neighbourhood.
In an interview, a 74-year-old villager and former student at Mbaulo Secondary School Mayilosi Mpofu shared his excitement about the newly acquired bus.
“No more waking up at 2am for travel,” he said, highlighting how this new addition has transformed their travel experience and made life so much easier for the community.
“I am very happy about this bus. Izasithwala isiphendukise sivela emadolobheni (it will take us to town and back). I can’t express my happiness.
“Now we can easily visit our families in town, go to the hospital for checkups, and conduct our business without the hassle of long and uncomfortable journeys,” he said.
Online Reporter