Gaps in the health, education and self-reliant sectors in the district have been addressed by projects done in the space of a year by the Tongogara Community Share Ownership Trust.
In other areas where the government has launched the schemes, companies are required to give 10 percent of their earnings to communities and there have been numerous reports of abuse.
State-of-the-art facilities
The Tongogara Community Share Ownership scheme led by Chief Nhema and bankrolled by Anglo Platinum’s Unki Mine, however, has put their resources to good use.
The Trust built state-of the-art Musasa Primary School where hundreds of children are now enrolled. The school has eight classroom blocks and three teachers’ cottages.
The Trust has also built two more classroom blocks at Banga Primary School where there was shortage of learning facilities due to an increase in the population. A house was also built for the school head.
However, the mortuary built at Zvamavande Hospital is the biggest project undertaken. At the same hospital, expecting mothers now also have a dedicated building.
“The projects have changed our health service delivery system for the better after years of challenges,” said Brian Maponga, the Shurugwi District Medical Officer.
A dam success
Villagers interested in agro-projects are now smiling all the way to vast Chirume Dam, which was constructed by the trust. The community leadership has also purchased a motorised grader, seven-tonne truck and a borehole drilling machine using part of the $10 million released by Unki mine so far.
“The grader will be used in improving our roads. Lately we have been having problems with public transport because ofbad roads,” said Chief Nhema. “We have also committed ourselves to drilling boreholes in the communities in order to alleviate the incessant challenge of water.”
Villagers who spoke to The Zimbabwean said their lives had been changed.
“Unki promised that they would change our lives for the better and we are happy to see transparency in the projects,” said one villager. “We encourage our leaders to use the money to further develop other critical areas,” said Tawanda Duber.
Michael Nyambuya, the National Economic Empowerment Board chairperson, said: “We feel proud that communities are benefiting. That was good planning on the part of the local trust. They have also earmarked land for a secondary school and I hear they also want to build a vocational center.”
He urged other Trusts to take a leaf from the Tongogara scheme’s book.
Post published in: News