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The doubting Thomases thought it was a mere political gimmick. Others took a spectator’s position and sceptically watched from a distance. A year after the launch of the first CSOT in Mhondoro-Ngezi and subsequent launches in three other provinces, the empowerment initiative has not only proved to be viable model but has also restored communities’ confidence in the role of Government towards empowering them and fostering meaningful development.
One such community is in Shurugwi where President Mugabe commissioned the Tongogara Community Share Ownership Scheme at Unki Mine in November last year.
On the 23rd of November 2011, Unki Mine complied with the Government indigenisation programme and availed $10 million to the Shurugwi community.
The community managed to identify what they called “five start-up projects”. These projects are building of a mortuary, classroom blocks, gardens, drilling boreholes and constructing a dam.
In interviews last Friday, people in the community expressed their happiness over the development that is benefiting the community.
Since the Government coffers are not deep enough to fully support community development, the CSOT/S concept has come in handy as the community benefits from local resources available.
Tongogara Community Share Ownership Trust is led by the community leaders who include the district administrator, councillors, chiefs and headmen.
The committee is mandated to monitor the projects and identify the projects together with the community.
A mortuary is being built at Zvamabande Clinic in Ward 10. The clinic is the district’s referral centre and the construction of the mortuary will go a long way in servicing the community.
Mr Joraam Chimedza, the district administrator for Shurugwi, said people in the area would now make burial arrangements for their dead without panicking as they will know that everything is in place.
The mortuary is now at the roofing stage and very soon it will be fully equipped. As a way of helping the locals, local builders were given the opportunity to assist in building the mortuary and some villagers were involved in digging the foundation.
The mortuary will also enhance the development of the clinic as it will encourage villagers and the entire community to spruce up the hospital which is in a bad state. In addition to the mortuary project, the community has, using proceeds from the community share ownership trust, constructed two classroom blocks at Banga Secondary School in Ward 8. Mr Chimedza described the classroom block as state-of-the-art, the first of its kind in the province and possibly the country.
“You can go to all urban schools but you will not find any building that will match it. The building is beautiful,” he said.
Headman Mapendere who resides near Chachacha Business Centre commended the building of the classrooms saying:
“I am happy to be associated with this good work. We would like to implore the Government to continue speeding up more projects. This is the opportunity for people to identify projects which suit their own needs.”
Mrs Susan Musiyarira (52), a vendor at Chachacha Bus Terminus said:
“The vegetables which I am selling are from the gardens we managed to launch through the community share ownership trust fund. I can afford to pay school fees for my children from the money I am getting,” she said.
The biggest project which is underway is the construction of Musasa Primary School. The school is in a newly resettled area where children were learning under trees.
The new school will have eight classrooms and building is at roofing level. Workers who were on site on Friday said they expect the building to be complete mid November.
A villager whose children are learning at Musasa Primary School said with the new classrooms, there would be no more disruptions to lessons.
“Our children were lagging behind in terms of education. During the rainy season they could not go to school and their performance was very pathetic owing to poor infrastructure and learning conditions,” said Mr Moses Shumba.
Three teachers houses are also being built at the school. Work is currently at window level.
Sourcing water was a problem in Shurugwi North constituency but to save teachers and pupils from walking long distances to fetch some, some of the money will be used to drill a borehole at the school.
Mr Chimedza said Chirume Dam wall is being reconstructed and it is about 80 percent complete. He expects the dam to be handed over to the community in December. He said the dam will benefit about 100 households surrounding it and more than 100 households down stream.
Svika Clinic had everything but water. The borehole which was the only source of water broke down but is now being rehabilitated, thanks to community share ownership funds.
Ms Chenai Maponga (23) from Ward 14, who is expecting said the rehabilitation of the borehole is of huge benefit as it will help pregnant women to deliver their babies under hygienic conditions.
“We were facing challenges especially when we were waiting to give birth. We were travelling about five kilometres to fetch water. The rehabilitation of the borehole will actually help us a lot,” said Ms Maponga.
Mr Chimedza said the Ministry of Public Works will soon install two 1000 litre tanks at the clinic.
“All the projects cost $675 000 and we expect to spearhead more projects as time goes on. Each ward will receive $150 000 for the projects which they have identified. We should engage in projects which will benefit the community,” he said.
Mr Chimedza said as a community they hope that other mining companies that include Todal Mine, Zimasco and Falcon that operate in Shurugwi will also contribute to the scheme.
He urged people to come and see the development taking place in the area.
Zimplats was the first to launch a CSOT in Mhondoro in October last year in Mhondoro-Ngezi. Unki Mine in Shurugwi was the second and the third scheme was launched at Mimosa Mine in Zvishavane. There is also one in Marange, Manicaland.
The Zvishavane Community Share Ownership Scheme is reportedly doing well as it has managed to drill boreholes, construct classroom blocks, clinics and teachers’ houses and sprucing up buildings at a number of schools.
The CSOT in Gwanda, Matabeleland South has in recent months been flighting advertisements for tenders to complete the construction of a number of clinics as well as rehabilitating of irrigation schemes.
Online Reporter