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Leonard Ncube-Victoria Falls Reporter
Tour operating firm, Shearwater Adventures, has been engaged by the Hwange Rural District Council to assist in building a modern home for Ms Leona Sibanda, a buffalo attack survivor from Chief Mvuthu in Hwange District.
Recently, a newly commissioned clinic built in BH128 in Vulindlela, Hwange District was named after her as a way of empowering the community to have access to primary healthcare and also compensating the woman.
The clinic was built through a partnership between Buy a Brick Foundation and Hwange RDC, which used devolution funds availed by the Government.
The clinic serves over 3 000 people in Kachechete, Nemananga, Vulindlela and Jabula areas.
Ms Sibanda (24), who was a young girl doing Form Two at Vulindlela Secondary School in 2014, survived a buffalo attack while fetching firewood.
She sustained a fractured ankle and it took several hours before she could be rushed to the hospital as there was no transport to take her to the clinic.
An ambulance crew that was called to ferry her to the hospital demanded payment of US$176 upfront.
While Ms Sibanda spent more than a month in hospital receiving treatment, her pains have brought smiles for the community 10 years after the attack.
The community of Vulindlela is one of the areas affected by human-animal conflict and the situation is further compounded by the unavailability of social services infrastructure.
Following a request by Hwange RDC, Shearwater Adventures pledged to build a decent house for Ms Sibanda.
Hwange RDC chief executive Mr Phindile Ncube recently told Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo and Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda, that Ms Sibanda is an orphan.
She has a three-year-old son, and both need assistance to lead a decent life.
Buy a Brick Foundation pledged to take care of the child by providing food, and basic needs such as clothes and catering for his education.
Shearwater Adventures spokesperson Mr Clement Mukwasi said the house will be fully furnished and electrified with solar to match Ms Sibanda’s status as an icon for her community.
Mr Mukwasi who is also president of the Employers Association for the Tourism and Safari Operators said the industry applauds the Government and all stakeholders for building a model clinic in the rural areas.
Leona Clinic is the 10th clinic built by Hwange RDC.
Mr Mukwasi said since tour operators conduct village tours and interaction activities in communities, good infrastructure will also help provide safety for tourists.
“This woman is vulnerable and because of this level of vulnerability, she doesn’t have a proper accommodation.
“She has certain other types of vulnerability that require her to stay in a well-constructed house,” said Mr Mukwasi.
“We have taken up the duty of building up a facility for Ms Sibanda and her child. We already have a plan that is being taken into consideration by Hwange RDC and we will be building a house according to that plan.”
Mr Mukwasi said the building material is now in place for the construction of the house whose completion will be determined by the speed of artisans that will be contracted.
The project is part of Shearwater’s way of giving back to the community.
“This is part of our corporate social responsibility since we operate in this community and we have an obligation of making sure that the community benefits. The timeframes are dependent entirely on the speed of the builders, but this is an urgent project that we are doing,” he said.
“The house will be electrified with solar because we can’t build a house and leave it dark when we are dealing with a vulnerable situation.”
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