Tendai Katiyo, 27, of Rusike, is one of the stone crushers in Marondera Town. He explained how he joined the profession and attained self-sufficiency through back-breaking work.
“When I completed my secondary education at Rakodzi High 2001 the economy in the country had assumed a down turn and industry was closing. This left school leavers with no job opportunities.
“Quarry companies also gave in to the economic meltdown and closed down due to lack of machinery and back up spares. The development impacted negatively on the construction industry.
“Initially, with a high demand for building material coming mainly from people in the Diaspora who were developing residential properties back home, we filled the gap created by the collapsed quarry companies.
“With two of my friends, we armed ourselves with picks, shovels and twenty four pound hammers and embarked on the project which has enabled us to put three decent meals on our table ever since.
“We started with minimal production averaging one wheel-barrow load of rocks per day. This was at a cost as our palms would be blistered due to the heavy stone- hammer impact.
“Were it not for the pressure to fend for my new wife and aging parents I could have easily resigned from the project. It was so painful that a day’s work seemed like a decade of hard labour in prison.
“We would start as early as 5am and down tools at 7pm. Since we were paid in foreign currency by our Diaspora clients we managed to live lives above that of most people, as the Zimbabwean dollar had started losing its value against currencies such as the South African Rand, Botswana Pula and the United States Dollar.
“A wheel-barrow load of the three quarter stone would go for US $2 and a single client asked for at least 200 wheel-burrow loads, enough for a seven roomed house project. With experience it would take us at least two weeks to meet the 200 wheel-burrow load demand and realise US$400 out of the effort.
“The venture later proved worthwhile as we could manage to send our dependents to school, provide food and clothing as well as pay rentals to land lords. I also paid off lobola to my in-laws within a short space of time.
“In Marondera demand for construction stones was traditionally met by quarry projects at Marondera Rural District Council, Marondera Municipality and Theydon quarry site. Closure of the three projects provided a life line to the unemployed in my situation.
“The ‘bush’ quarry project has turned into a big time income generating project and one of the major activities around the country. With the positive economic turnaround currently experienced by the country, lots of people have embarked on land development and construction projects.
“With the ever rising demand for the stone, we have since employed willing youths as additional manpower for the project. Our project now boats a 12 man team of determined participants.
“We encourage new members to channel part of their earnings towards the acquisition of their own tools. This will widen their horizons and allow them to take control of their destiny”.
Determined youths like Katiyo have improved their welfare and become heroes in their communities. Seeing them at work is quite an inspiration as they earn an honest living while also working by a code of conduct. The quarrymen agreed that no stone would be blasted below the ground level in order to avoid leaving gulleys behind and to reduce soil erosion.
Post published in: News