Farai Dauramanzi in BUHERA
CHIEF Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya has challenged Zimbabweans to spearhead infrastructure development in their rural home areas rather than relying on external assistance.
He made the call yesterday while commissioning several completed projects at Makumbe Mission in Buhera, delivered under the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) Rural Congregations Transformation Programme.
The newly commissioned facilities include a pastoral house replacing a structure built in 1914, a borehole for Makumbe Primary School, perimeter fencing, a 6,5kVA solar system, a public address system and modern ablution facilities.
The developments stem from pledges made during a May 31, 2026 fundraising event hosted by the RCZ Rural Congregations Support Group, where Dr Rushwaya — who serves as the programme’s patron—committed to building the pastor’s residence, while the local Mugumbate family funded the toilets.
Dr Rushwaya said the initiative embodied President Mnangagwa’s Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo philosophy and the national drive to leave no one and no place behind.
“We came here on May 31, and we made a commitment to build a new house for the pastor, drill a borehole for Makumbe Primary, put a fence at the church and secure a new PA system. We were assisted by a local family who constructed the toilet,” Dr Rushwaya said.
“So we are here to hand over the projects that we undertook to construct. Just like what the President always says, that Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, we are the owners of the church and we should be committed to take care of the infrastructure.”
“It is no longer time to wait for people to come and help develop our own infrastructure,” he added, urging congregants and citizens to return to their rural homes and take ownership of local development. During the ceremony, Dr Rushwaya pledged further support, including drilling three additional boreholes —at Gute Primary School, Zenda village in Makumbe and Makumbe Mission Church — procuring a vehicle for the mission pastor and constructing a nurses’ house at Gombe Clinic.
“We should also ensure that the developments we undertake as a church also cascade to benefit the surrounding communities,” he said.
In an interview, RCZ Synod Vice Synod Moderamen Secretary Engineer Tinayeshe Mutazu welcomed the programme for narrowing the infrastructure gap between rural and urban congregations.
“The church is impressed with this initiative which aims to uplift operations in our congregations, especially those in rural areas,” Eng Mutazu said.
“This is our aim as a church, which is also in line with the nation’s initiative of Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo and the President’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind. We envisage seeing our clergy and congregants in rural areas enjoying the same facilities as their counterparts in urban areas.”
Programme coordinator Mr Tsungirirai Jeche noted that the upgrades benefit both the mission and wider Buhera residents.
“As a person who was born in Makumbe, I am happy that the community is also benefiting from our church’s infrastructural development drive, as the Chief Secretary has also pledged to drill a borehole for Zenda village and construct a house for nurses at Gombe Clinic,” Mr Jeche said.
