News / National
White man challenges poverty in Rural Zvishavane
30 Mar 2015 at 14:16hrs | Views
Master honey gatherer Lepitilin Leulika, an Ndorobo hunter from Ngurnit in the Ndoto Hills of Northern Kenya, explains to Dr. Wilson how the Honey Guide, a bird that collaborates with people to find, harvest, and share honey, communicates the location of a wild bee hive to a hunter
Zvishavane - A local Non-Governmental Organisation, Muonde Trust is giving a ray of hope to thousands of people from poverty-stricken Mazvihwa community, south-east of Zvishavane town.
Muonde Trust which is being head by a white man Dr Ken Wilson together with two local organic intellectuals Mr. Billy Mukamuri and Abraham Mawere Ndhlovu has uplifted the lives of scores villagers in the community by giving them skills in water harvesting, domestic architecture, education, digital technology, animal breeding and woodlands management.
"Everything at Muonde is focused on transforming the experience of development from one driven through top-down externally-derived resources and ideas (in which locals are a "target" and exhorted to "participate") to instead one that people themselves own and that encourages the bottom-up generation and sharing of practical knowledge alongside providing empowering training when needed,' reads a statement from the Trust.
In a recent visit to Mazvihwa communal lands, this reporter was ushered by local people who showered a lot of praises to Dr Wilson for his philanthropy and community-oriented development initiates.
"Muonde has taught me many things and has empowered me as a single mother. Besides earning a decent salary I now know dead level contours and the importance of hygiene and cleanliness. The exposure and interaction I get with different people from different countries is priceless," said Lucia Sigauke.
Headman Marozva also praised Dr Wilson saying his knowledge in environmental issues and respect of local leadership make him a treasure to the whole community.
"In Mazvihwa it is the role of chiefs to ensure that trees are preserved. The fact that Muonde employed me as a nursery manager shows that Muonde is working within what we treasure as Mazvihwa community," added headman Marozva.
Muonde Trust also funds an adult education program at Gwavachemai secondary school. The program was launched to cater for hundreds of students who were affected by the 2008 hardship that led to the closure of the school during that time.
The Trust also has an ongoing student's bursary which caters for local students from disadvantaged background. Five students who passed their o' level at Gwavachemai are currently doing their A' level at Mzondo high school in Masvingo and the trust is working on raising funds for Maria Chinguo who did well at her advanced level last year.
Musavengana Hove is a freelance journalist based in Bulawayo. Email soldierjournalist@gmail.com for feedback
Muonde Trust which is being head by a white man Dr Ken Wilson together with two local organic intellectuals Mr. Billy Mukamuri and Abraham Mawere Ndhlovu has uplifted the lives of scores villagers in the community by giving them skills in water harvesting, domestic architecture, education, digital technology, animal breeding and woodlands management.
"Everything at Muonde is focused on transforming the experience of development from one driven through top-down externally-derived resources and ideas (in which locals are a "target" and exhorted to "participate") to instead one that people themselves own and that encourages the bottom-up generation and sharing of practical knowledge alongside providing empowering training when needed,' reads a statement from the Trust.
In a recent visit to Mazvihwa communal lands, this reporter was ushered by local people who showered a lot of praises to Dr Wilson for his philanthropy and community-oriented development initiates.
"Muonde has taught me many things and has empowered me as a single mother. Besides earning a decent salary I now know dead level contours and the importance of hygiene and cleanliness. The exposure and interaction I get with different people from different countries is priceless," said Lucia Sigauke.
"In Mazvihwa it is the role of chiefs to ensure that trees are preserved. The fact that Muonde employed me as a nursery manager shows that Muonde is working within what we treasure as Mazvihwa community," added headman Marozva.
Muonde Trust also funds an adult education program at Gwavachemai secondary school. The program was launched to cater for hundreds of students who were affected by the 2008 hardship that led to the closure of the school during that time.
The Trust also has an ongoing student's bursary which caters for local students from disadvantaged background. Five students who passed their o' level at Gwavachemai are currently doing their A' level at Mzondo high school in Masvingo and the trust is working on raising funds for Maria Chinguo who did well at her advanced level last year.
Musavengana Hove is a freelance journalist based in Bulawayo. Email soldierjournalist@gmail.com for feedback
Source - Musavengana Hove
