Small towns and the spirit of the community

Yoliswa Moyo, Features Editor

I knew I had assimilated well when the manager at the local grocery store allowed me to take home a sack of potatoes after failing to pay for it due to network challenges.

Connectivity in some parts of Matabeleland South was sometimes erratic, making electronic payments a nightmare. On that particular day, I was in Colleen Bawn, a mining area some 26 kilometres outside Gwanda town, stuck at the till with a sack of potatoes I almost desperately needed.

I had just started a new position there, covering the rainbow province of Matabeleland South. I was quite surprised the manager allowed me to leave with the potatoes. She was kind enough to give me an EcoCash number I could send the money to once the network had improved. I was stunned. I mean, being the city girl that I was, I had never experienced such. There’s no way any retailer in Bulawayo could allow you to leave with any merchandise without paying for it first. I was grateful of course, and this is when I started to learn more about small towns and the spirit of community.

Everyone knows everybody, you can never get stuck. Whether it’s a tyre puncture, a lift home for your child, or like me, some grace to pay later – there’s always someone ready to help. As you are still trying to settle in, people would have already figured out what you do for a living, who you are married to and what your spouse does for a living, your children, the kind of car you drive, where you live, who you live with – the list is long. If you bought a new couch or television, the whole community would know before you even found the perfect spot for it in your house.

Someone once jokingly said there was a time the local nurse could trace illicit affairs and where one could’ve contracted a Sexually Transmitted Infection, because of how closely knit small communities can be. Bereavements are approached with much unity and compassion. 

Start a business and everyone will come flocking to support your endeavours. Unlike the city where you are constantly looking over your shoulder, people here feel safe enough to leave their cars unlocked. Some actually see nothing wrong with leaving the key in the ignition and going to sleep for the night. You can leave your child’s bicycle on the veranda and it will never go missing because people are entrenched in the spirit of community and the need to look out for one another, not steal from each other.

According to research, many moral traditions, social values and institutions were challenged or rejected during the 1960s and a new core of values has not arisen to fill the void. The “moral confusion” left in the wake of the 60s eroded the “notion of a shared community or public interest” and encouraged fragmentation and conflict within society. However, it is argued that the communal spirit is the aspect of traditional African societies that sets them apart from individualistic Western societies. This is comforting in many respects but, before you decide to move to a small town or community, here are a few things to consider.

Cost of living

There are fewer service providers to choose from across the board, which makes the cost of living quite high. Whether it’s electricals, hardware, furniture, cosmetics, clothing or baby accessories, there is not a wide range of service providers to choose from which makes goods and services more expensive. For example, a jumbo pack of Pampers diapers which cost US$15 in Bulawayo may go for US$20 in Gwanda. Other products may not be available completely, so you would need to outsource. On the flip side, one may make savings on transport as traveling between places can be done on foot or with short drives. One can easily go between their house and office for lunch without wincing because of the proximity between the Central Business District and residential areas. Savings can also be made through bulk buying from the nearest city. Groceries are much cheaper when bought in bulk. If one can calculate how much worth of resources they may need in a month, it is easier to buy in bulk in order to avoid expensive options.

Privacy

While a small town may be the perfect place to hide away from the city life and its troubles, it may not be the best for someone looking for adventure. With time, people become familiar with each other. You walk into a supermarket and random children; your child’s classmates start fussing over you. Or shop assistants ask why you didn’t bring in your children because they noticed the scene they caused the last time you were there. The likelihood of meeting the same people at church, the swimming pool, a braai spot or government offices is very high and may be uncomfortable if you just want to go about your business where no one knows you. It is however, perfect for retirees who want to live among people they’re familiar with as they are now old and might need a hand here and there. Small towns are also ideal for those who just want a quiet life. They are also okay for people that no longer seek to advance their careers as opportunities are limited.

Healthcare

While access to basic health care is available, small towns can be a headache when you need specialised treatment. For example, if you ever needed a paediatrician, optician, oncologist or any other specialist, you would need to travel to Bulawayo to get the needed health care. This can be inconvenient during an emergency, which may occur when there’s no budget for extra travel. Many cope by keeping essential over the counter medicines at home. An emergency fund is also crucial for a rainy day. While general practitioners do a great job in offering basic medical care, being proactive is important when a decision to broaden treatment options and better facilities needs to be made.   

Education     

There’s a considerable number of good primary schools in Gwanda but the same can’t be said about high schools and pre-schools. A significant number of parents choose to keep their children at home until they’re old enough to enrol for ECD A. This is because there are limited options for pre-schools. Many are just houses that have been converted into pre-schools, and are probably ideal for those requiring basic day care services. Once children complete their Grade 7, some parents opt to send their children to boarding schools such as South Eastern College, Kyle College, Riverton Academy, Midlands Christian College, Falcon College, Oakley House, Mtshabezi High School, Manama High School and Mzingwane High School. Others prefer sending their children to day schools in Bulawayo and look for boarding houses there.

Bilingualism

Matabeleland South is a ‘linguists’ dream. If you are keen on being multilingual and learning different local languages, this is the perfect place to learn. People here speak SeSotho, Setswana, Venda, Tonga, Shona and Ndebele, among other languages. The diversity in language also means a diversity of culture, which makes it all the more amazing.

Cash cow

Entertainment promoters have since realised that Gwanda is a cash cow. There’s a lot of gold mining happening around and people are liquid. However, because it’s a small town, there isn’t much happening in terms of entertainment. It’s the perfect place to establish an upmarket restaurant or play centre for children. The appetite for entertainment is huge, which is why promoters in recent times have brought in big names like Nkosazana Daughter, DJ Tira, Winky D and                                soon Sha Sha. Gwanda is also a great place to start a business. It could be a business in mining consumables, building materials, clothing, baby wear and accessories or furniture – the market is there, whatever niche you choose.

Market gardening is also a great business idea. It is hard getting vegetables in season in a supermarket. Unless you grow your own, months may go by without you ever getting lettuce, peas or eggplant from the local grocery store. More service providers are needed to give consumers options and even out the pricing. You just need to go out there and start. – @Yolisswa