Online Reporter
The 46th Independence Day anniversary was held at Maphisa Growth Point in Matobo District, Matabeleland South.
It was a massive event, marking the first time that the bustling growth point had hosted an event of such significance.
The Government did a lot to prepare for the big occasion on April 18. It constructed and rehabilitated roads, clinics, schools, houses, mobile communications infrastructure and so on.
However, we learnt and saw that not all the construction had been completed at the time of the celebration. For example, long stretches of the Bulawayo-Maphisa Road that were supposed to be paved had not been tarred.
Our long experience has taught us that any Government projects that remained incomplete by the time of an event for which they were initiated would remain incomplete for long periods.
But the Second Republic sees through its commitments. Infrastructural developments that continue to happen around Maphisa are further evidence of that position.
This refusal to stop is a powerful indication that these projects are not political gestures, but essential components of national infrastructure intended to spur economic growth well into the future.
We feel that the most profound impact is perhaps being felt within the education sector. The facelift at Mahetshe primary and secondary schools is revolutionary. Gone are the days when children in this community learned under trees or in dilapidated structures. Today, the schools boast state-of-the-art science laboratories, computer centres, and modern classrooms.
As the head Mrs Sibusiso Sibindi aptly noted, the secondary school is being “dragged into the 21st century.”
The ripple effects of this infrastructural injection are immediate and heart-warming. Enrollment is surging, with parents from the diaspora sending their children back home, confident in the quality of local education. Attendance is rising as well, not because of coercion, but because students are proud of their now-improved environment. This is the psychology of development at work; when you provide dignity in infrastructure, it fosters a dignity of mind.
Also, the scope of the work extends beyond brick and mortar. The inclusion of income-generating projects, such as fish farming and vegetable gardens, ensures that these schools are moving toward financial self-sufficiency. Coupled with the rehabilitation of Kezi and Maphisa District Hospitals and the construction of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Vocational Training Centre, it is clear that a holistic approach to development is being advanced.
What the Government is doing in Matobo, more than a month after the event, is important. It demonstrates that authorities are committed to developing the country. Yes, financial and time constraints can intervene at some point, but the commitment to do what matters remains. That renders credibility to commitments, even those that authorities will make in future.
derick.khumalo