Steve McKechnie, who lives in the UK, was distressed to read that the co-operative could not function as the eight female and two male members just could not raise the $800 necessary to get electricity connected to the bakery they had built.
The donation was handed over to co- operative members Rangarirai Muchandibaya, Margrate Mutake, Locardia Dhamu, Edmore Mhiripiri and Tsitsi Charambira by Sofia Mapuranga, the reporter who wrote the original article, and the administrator, Vitalis Pfumo.
Members of the co- operative could not hide their joy as they pledged to put the money to its intended use to fulfil their dream. The co-op was formed in April 2012 and members worked hard to build their Masasa bakery. But the facility had been lying dormant for close to a year because of failure to get money to electrify it.
The Chairperson, Rangarirai Muchandibaya said The Zimbabwean team “ is really the voice of the voiceless”.
“The money that we were making was too little to save for the completion of the project and it was hard to watch our dream fade away after having gone this far,” she said.
Another project member, Hilda Chibanda, said the donation was just in time considering that the rainy season was fast approaching: a time when Buhera communities are cut off from major towns and their nearest growth point, Murambinda, 70 km away.
“The roads are very poor and we hardly get any supplies from Chipinge, which is our nearest town, Chipinge,” she said. “We are optimistic that the donation is going to cement our aspirations, where we are looking forward to changing not only our lives, but those of other community members,” she said.
Locadia Dhamu said it was a dream come true that the bakery was going to be electrified following McKechnie’s donation and said the initiative was a true reflection that the ‘world cares’.
“This donation has revived our zeal to develop our community. We are aware that change starts with myself as an individual. Together we are able to build an even stronger fort and we pray that McKechnie’s kind hand be blessed with even more because of the hundreds of lives that he has touched with this donation,” she said.
Edmore Mhiripiri, one of the male members of the co-operative, urged fellow community members to start initiatives to develop their constituency.
“The bakery is a legacy for future generations and we are optimistic that there will come a time when proceeds from this veture will not only sustain livelihoods but also create employment for community members,” he said, adding that proceeds from the bakery would be used to develop the constituency.
Post published in: News