Freeman Chari withdraws from Chingwizi project

The Citizens Initiative (CI), a non-political organization known for its grassroots development projects, has withdrawn from its plan to construct classroom blocks at Chingwizi Primary School in Masvingo Province. The decision follows months of bureaucratic challenges and new conditions imposed by local authorities.

CI leader Freeman Chari announced the withdrawal in a detailed statement, explaining that despite initial clearances from provincial authorities, the project faced significant delays due to additional requirements from Dr. Pazvakavambwa, the Permanent Secretary in the Office of the President in Masvingo.

According to Chari, CI was asked to register as a Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO), a lengthy process with numerous administrative hurdles. Additionally, CI was instructed to channel its resources through the local council, a move Chari said would inflate costs and reduce transparency in the management of donor funds.

The decision to withdraw comes after a series of meetings involving local authorities, traditional leaders, and security representatives. While initial approvals allowed CI to proceed, new conditions introduced during a December 3 meeting halted progress.

In his statement, Chari highlighted the challenges faced:

"The request for endless meetings has already forced us to burn through 12% of what we had raised for the first block. After consulting with the CI board, we have resolved to withdraw from the project and donate the materials we had already purchased to Chingwizi Primary School."

The materials, including cement, bricks, and stones, had already been delivered to the school. CI had hoped to address the dire learning conditions faced by the 662 children at Chingwizi Primary, many of whom lack proper classroom facilities.

Chari noted that this is not the first time CI has encountered such obstacles in Masvingo Province. Similar issues forced the organization to abandon plans for a clinic in January 2020 and a home for Mt Hampden children in 2021. A school project in Nkayi was also abandoned in 2022 under comparable circumstances.

The withdrawal is a significant setback for the children of Chingwizi Primary and the donors who contributed to the initiative. Chari expressed regret, stating:

"It breaks our hearts to be unable to fulfil the wishes of our ordinary donors who put in their hard-earned money just so that the 662 children have a decent learning space. It was beyond our control, and we tried our best. We are sorry."

Despite the challenges in Masvingo, CI remains committed to its mission of improving communities across Zimbabwe. Chari urged authorities to minimize bureaucratic hurdles to enable smoother execution of similar projects in the future.

The donated materials will still benefit Chingwizi Primary School, though the classroom blocks envisioned by CI will not be realized under its guidance. The situation underscores ongoing challenges faced by development initiatives in navigating Zimbabwe's regulatory environment.