The Sunday News
Peter Matika, Senior Reporter
TWO Zimbabweans based outside the country have come together and donated two mini-vans to two rural schools in Bulilima District in Matabeleland South Province as part of uplifting the community.
The scenes of witnessing children having to walk long distances to participate in sporting disciplines, or being isolated from the activity, galvanised Mr Sikhumbuzo Mlalazi, warmly known in the community as Dumms and Mr Hopewell Masola to source funds and procure mini-vans, which they donated to the schools. Mr Mlalazi is based in South Africa and Mr Masola in the United Kingdom.
During an event held yesterday at Tokwana High School in Ward 4, the two officially handed over a Vauxhall mini-van to the school before handing a similar mini-van to Tjehanga Primary School.
“We grew up here and are members of this community. I have businesses here and I know the plight of the community especially the children. They walk long distances and sometimes fail to attend sporting activities because of lack of transport, which renders them isolated to other schools.
“So it was then that it struck me and Mr Masola that we needed to do something about this. We were made to understand that the school had been trying to raise funds to procure a bus. So that is when we got the vans and they used some of the funds to assist with other modalities,” said Mr Mlalazi.
Mr Masola said they were motivated by seeing other people also donating to their communities.
“We would like to encourage other people to do the same and this is a sign of responsibility. Let us develop our communities and be proud of where we come from, after all charity begins at home,” he said.
Tokwana High School Development Committee chairperson Mr Million Ndlovu applauded the two diasporans and urged other members of society to do likewise.
“Our future leaders are in our schools and what better way to raise them to being better people than to assist in making their access to education easier. We would like to thank our sons for the gesture and urge them to keep up the good work. This will go a long way in assisting us in transport, as in many occasions we had to hire vehicles to get to places and it was a burden on school coffers,” said Mr Ndlovu.
