RESIDENTS of Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle Phase 1 in Gwanda’s ward 9 have once again stood up for themselves, pooling funds so that they can have power supply installed, a programme currently standing at 90% completion.
Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle is a Zimbabwean government housing initiative launched in June 2005 to provide homes and business premises for people affected by Operation Murambatsvina.
It was launched as a reconstruction measure, but initially faced criticism for delivering incomplete, un-serviced plots and subpar structures.
The government is actively implementing nationwide regularisation, servicing (water, sewer and roads) and formalisation exercises.
Beneficiaries in various areas, including Gwanda, are having their homes serviced and regularised while a national rollout requires residents to pay for land and development costs to obtain title deeds.
Speaking to Southern Eye, ward 9 councillor Darlington Sibanda said residents came together and sourced out funds for electricity materials.
“What we have so far is a community initiative done by residents with their councillor,” he said.
“Residents sourced out electricity material with installation standing at 90% to date.”
Sibanda said they were likely to complete the project soon as their supplier promised to avail materials this week.
“We are waiting for the supplier.
“He promised to bring materials on Wednesday this week.”
The councillor said they were eyeing the next project which they wanted to work on.
“Our next move is to look at the roads that surround us.
“But recently, the government engaged a contractor for the road because they came and did groundbreaking.
“So we are waiting to see what will happen next and if they delay we will work on the road on our own.”
One of the residents, Pasca Tembo, expressed happiness over the progress.
“As residents, we managed to get our own private supplier called Garnex and we contributed to get the electricity materials,” Tembo said.
“Our supplier allowed us to pay in instalments and here we are. Zesa then came in and provided labour.”
Tembo said they were also happy because having gone for too long without electricity, they came together as residents and managed to get the wheels turning.
“We excited because we are doing this together with our councillor, who is very forthcoming.
“He has been giving us the support we need.”
Another resident told Southern Eye that she appreciated the efforts made by the community — coming together and help each other.
“I am very happy and I want to thank the community for contributing and helping out. We faced challenges here and there because some were not forthcoming,” she said.
According to reports in 2021, the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle ward sewerage piping which took 14 years was completed after residents made contributions.