Hundreds of women, community leaders, and villagers gathered at Clifford Ncube’s homestead in Village 3, Ward 19, recently for a community empowerment programme where Ward 23 shadow councillor Sikhanyisiwe Nkomo announced agricultural and livelihood support worth more than US$3,000.
The event, organised by the Hlokomo Group, brought together several women’s income-generating projects that outlined challenges in sustaining their initiatives.
Representatives from Dzenya Group appealed for fencing to protect their community garden from stray livestock.
The Nkukhu Makhaya group cited rising feed costs threatening its road runner poultry project, while Seliphumile Ilanga group requested help securing markets for broiler production.
The Ndosakusa group highlighted water shortages affecting its vegetable garden.
Nkomo announced an immediate assistance package including US$1 100 used on the day to purchase 20 goats for distribution.
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She also pledged US$1 200 towards drilling or constructing a community well, plus two earth auger drilling machines, a water pump, eight 50kg bags of broiler feed, 100 road runner chickens, and four solar spark starter lights donated through Virl Company, each valued at US$102.
To support poultry production, she pledged to purchase broilers for supply to workers at her mine.
Goat beneficiaries were instructed to participate in a pass-on scheme, donating the first female kid born to another woman in the community, with Ward 19 councillor Thulani Sibanda’s office coordinating the programme.
Speaking at the event, an elderly villager said: “I am now grey-headed. I was born here at Phaphama, I grew up here and I have buried my parents here.
“But I have never witnessed anything like this before. Someone using their own resources to empower our people is truly a wonder from heaven.”
Sibanda praised Nkomo for years of support for party activities before extending initiatives to Ward 19.
“Since 2018 she has been supporting Zanu-PF activities at district level. Today she has brought that same spirit of philanthropy to Ward 19,” Sibanda said.
Nkomo urged residents to safeguard the projects.
The programme was attended by war veterans local chairperson Joel Mhlanga, headmen Elphas Msipha, Lovemore Moyo, and Lillian Msipha.