Chronicle Editor
Mthabisi Tshuma, Sunday News Correspondent
THE San community in Bulilima District have welcomed the recognition they have received from the Second Republic, saying programmes that have been put in place were helping them to change their lives.
The Government has made fruitful strides in changing the lifestyles of the San community from hunting and gathering to focusing largely on the agriculture sector. The San are reportedly the first people to occupy much of Southern Africa.
Known as the Bushmen, abaThwa in isiNdebele and Basagwa in Kalanga, the San inhabit remote areas of Southern Africa, in Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe. In modern day Zimbabwe, the San community is found in Matabeleland North’s Tsholotsho District and Bulilima District in Matabeleland South where they have lived under the dominion of BaKalanga and Ndebele ethnic groups for the past century.
Their leadership has said Government has played a pivotal role in ensuring that they are not viewed as an outcast in a free Zimbabwe. Bulilima West Member of Parliament Cde Dingumuzi Phuti on Wednesday last week visited the San community and highlighted how President Mnangagwa’s leadership continues to foster change in former marginalised communities.
“When President Mnangagwa ushered in the New Dispensation in 2017 most visible and loudest statement was that no one should be left behind. Since then we have seen an unprecedented inclusivity. Of note is the inclusivity of former marginalised communities that include the Doma people in Mashonaland Central, the Tonga people in Matabeleland North and Mashonaland West, the Gaza areas of Masvingo Province and the San in Bulilima and Tsholotsho,” said Cde Phuti.
He said the First Lady, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa has led from the front in ensuring that the San people tap into the agriculture sector through setting up of a nutritional garden and an orchard.
“Government has emancipated the San people in a way not seen ever in their lifetime. We have seen the First Lady’s ventures of identifying these people and getting them closer to the Ndebele and Kalanga people. Today through the programmes initiated that have become even better because of the particular attention done by the First Lady and Government in bringing them closer to their surrounding areas of Ndebele and Kalanga people,” said Cde Phuti.
He said a recent resolution by Government will see the setting up of schools and issuance of birth certificates to these groups.
“To add weight to this, Government has instructed that boarding schools should be constructed in these areas and birth certificates be issued to the needy. There is also recognition of them through a special seat for local Government structures that is in council and also headmanship which will lead to a graduation to a possible chiefdom.”
The head of the San community in Bulilima, Mrs Matjena Ncube, said the Government has done a lot for the community.
“Since the coming in of the New Dispensation we have been visited by the mother of the nation, First Lady Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa over numerous times and she has helped us know that agriculture can sustain our livelihoods,” said Mrs Ncube.
Another villager, Mr John Ndlovu said: “We are grateful for the support rendered by the Government as not only are we being recognised but we now have a sense of belonging.” — @mthabisi_mthire.
Bongani Ndlovu