BaKalanga give back to their communities, encouraged to do more

The old saying states that 'charity begins at home'. For sure, Bulilima and Mangwe, key Kalanga Districts in Zimbabwe (in addition to Matobo and Tjolotjo, as well as the North East in Botswana), witnessed the coming true of this old saying.

BaKalanga from the area came to their communities' rescue by donating school building tools for the teaching of courses such as Brick & Blocklaying and Building Studies, as well as School Uniforms and shoes.

Some of the lead donors were the Reverend Kudzani SBM Ndebele of Tokwana Village who donated an assortment of building tools to Maqhekeni Secondary School in Bulilima District. The Rev. KSBM Ndebele, a holder of a Master's Degree and lecturer in Theology, is Executive Director of the Kuruman Moffat Mission in Kuruman, Northern Cape Province, South Africa.

Addressing pupils at Maqhekeni Secondary during the handover ceremony, Rev. Ndebele encouraged pupils to study hard, stating: "We have come here to give you these tools because we believe in education. We believe that the only way for us as a community to advance is to educate our children. So, if you want to fly in life, you need to study hard, be disciplined and cooperate with your teachers."

On behalf of the school, the Acting Deputy Head, Miss S. Ndlovu, thanked Rev Ndebele for the efforts, stating that the tools will go a long way in helping the school achieve its objectives. Some teachers also indicated that it was a great move to have Bakalanga who have educated themselves and succeeded in life come back to the communities and not only giving back but also inspiring students, showing them that it is possible to make it through education.

Donating other tools, shoes and uniformes in absentia were Apollo Dawu Sibanda, also based in South Africa, and Malvin Dube, based in the UK.

Mr Dube, who comes from Sanzukwi in Mangwe Districts and also runs the community development website www.sanzukwe.com, said he saw it as his responsibility to give back to the community, for "none but ourselves can lift up ourselves."

Mr. Apollo Sibanda encouraged the community to put its hands together and give back to the communities, telling the coordinator of the donations, Mr Ndzimu-unami Emmanuel Moyo, that self-reliance and self-help is the way to go for the BuKalanga communities. He further encouraged other Bakalanga to give back to their communities, stating that being a donor doesn't require one to give thousands of dollars, but the small donations each one of us gives will go a long way and, together, lift up the community.

On his part, Programme Coordinator, Mr Ndzimu-unami Moyo, who himself donated an assortment of textbook to Bulu High School in Mangwe in April, said he was very happy and encouraged that Bakalanga are, as they have always done throughout history, again taking responsibility for their destiny, and that it is these small steps that will lead to self-government and self-determination for Bakalanga. He encouraged Bakalanga throughout the world to give back to their communities and never forget home.

He stated, "The Kalanga 'anthem' says, KuBukalanga ndiko kanyi kwedu, Bukalanga ndilo tshime ledu" (Bukalanga is our home, Bukalanga is our fountain). This sounds much like the Jew-in-exile song 'By the rivers of Babylon we set and remembered Zion". Jews, wherever in the world they are, never forget Jerusalem. We also, wherever we are in the world, must never forget Bukalanga. Pulling together we can rebuild our Nation and develop it to heights never imagined before. We sincerely thank all those that are extending their hands to develop their communities."