Plumtree Villagers Launch Self-funding Project

Tshitshi villagers have launched an ambitious self-funding project — the Endowment Building Programme — to raise local grants to support community development. 

PLUMTREE, (Citizen Reports) — Tshitshi villagers have launched an ambitious self-funding project — the Endowment Building Programme — to raise local grants for supporting community development. 

The project which was launched last week was organised by the Community Foundation for the Western Region of Zimbabwe (CFWRZ). CFWRZ is currently working with local communities to promote community self-funding through an initiative dubbed "Qogelela".

Qogelela is a Ndebele term which describes the process of mobilising resources in smaller amounts. The initiative has been adopted by economically disadvantaged communities across Matabeleland and Midlands provinces. 

“Being part of Qogelela helps even the orphans within the community,” Chief Tshitshi whose jurisdiction the area where the project was launched falls said. “If people assist each other, it helps the community as a whole.”

The Chief said it was imperative for villagers to embrace the project to advance local development.

Sibanda Phakamisa, a local Councillor representing the Assembly of Communities Advisory Committee (ACAC), a watchdog for community funds, said villagers had embraced the project in order “to end the culture of begging.”

“The Qogelela project is building a sustainable fund that works as a springboard for development projects in the communities,” he said adding that there was no need for villagers to continue begging if they could raise funds to support local projects.

“Of importance is that the owners of the funds are the contributors from the community themselves, whilst management is done by CFWRZ, with ACAC as the watchdog.”

Mangwe legislator and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Honorable Obedingwa Mguni applauded the launch of the project and urged locals to fully embrace it to advance community development.

Tshitshi joins villages such as Thekwane, Ndiweni, Nyele, Nguwanyana, Silima, Embakwe and Empandeni amongst others from Bulilima and Mangwe which have already embraced Community Endowment projects.

The Community Endowment Programme which will be run by Self Help Groups has since received a start-up grant of $1,000.

Editor's note: This article was done in partnership with Getjenge Community Radio, a Plumtree based community news initiative.