FOR decades, the San community, situated about 100km from Tsholotsho Centre, have been a symbol of quiet resilience.
Marginalised and largely excluded from development, this community has faced unimaginable hardships, with little access to basic human needs like clean water.
And to stem the tide of marginalisation, the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has opened its doors to members of the San community so they can be attested even if they do not have the basic education requirements.
And to show they really think about their community, beneficiaries of the ZPCS benevolence pushed to have a reliable water source in their community
“We are happy, our children have made us proud. Thank you to our children for giving us water through this project,” an elderly woman said during the handover ceremony of a borehole to the community.
The water source was availed by ZPCS working with trade promotions body ZimTrade to provide clean water to the marginalised community.
Chief Goledema applauded the co-operation between ZPCS and ZimTrade in ensuring they have access to clean water.
“We are happy because for a long time, our community had no water. This year, since our co-operation with ZPCS and ZimTrade, it has been proven that if we work together, we will end up developed like other communities, who do everything using water,” he said.
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“This is the first time for us to have reliable water. Most of the time we rely on dam water, which dries up when there is a drought. Water from the dam will only be available when it rains again.
“We want more boreholes drilled, especially in ward 7, whose villagers depend on one dam for everything. If we get a borehole there or more wells are drilled, there will be de-congestion.”
The area’s sole water source, Sifula Sengwe, dried up, leaving people in a desperate struggle for survival.
ZPCS commissioner-general Moses Chihobvu stepped in, turning the villagers’ plight into a beacon of hope after uniting marginalised communities while opening doors for employment of the San people to foster significant development in their area of origin.
“The San community has over the years suffered marginalisation and the introduction of policies to ensure the inclusion of everyone, such as leaving no one and no place behind by the second republic, is already facilitating the availability of equal opportunities for them and the improvement of their lives,” he said.
Under Chihobvu’s leadership, the ZPCS has taken unprecedented steps to include individuals from the San community in its ranks.
Recognising the systemic barriers they faced, ZPCS granted a waiver on the standard recruitment requirement of five Ordinary Level subjects.
For the San people, joining the ZPCS is a first step towards recognition, dignity and inclusion in Zimbabwe’s national fabric.
Said Chihobvu: “We heeded the call by the government that we should also include in our recruitment those communities which are disadvantaged. Then we recruited the San community, of which the first and second groups did very well in training.”
He said the authorities deployed them where they could attend school.
“While they were attending school, they came to me and asked for assistance because they wanted to come back home and donate to the parents, thanking them for allowing them to join others at work,” Chihobvu said.
“So, while we were discussing, I also asked them what exactly they wanted to do. Then they said they had a challenge of water in the community.
“Fortunately, I was with the ZimTrade CEO [chief executive officer]. We discussed the issue and he agreed to assist us so that we can give water to those who need it today.”
He said the organisations sent teams to do surveys.
ZimTrade chief executive Allan Majuru promised the community agricultural inputs to establish a community garden.
“This borehole is not just a source of water; it’s the start of self-sufficiency. We will ensure you have the tools to grow crops that will sustain your families and empower future generations,” he said.
“In August we came and we witnessed where they were getting their water. So we saw it fit to partner the residents and the community to put in place this structure to facilitate access to clean water.”
Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Richard Moyo emphasised that the community had a responsibility to maintain the infrastructure.
“This borehole is a gift and a challenge to unite as a community and protect it for your children and grandchildren,” he said.
