Newman Mugada
Hon Barbara Rwodzi undoubtedly deserves a place in the Zimbabwe book of records, as she has saved many lives from murderous bullies who go around the country robbing gold miners of their hard-earned gold.
Following the discovery of gold at Shashe River in Chirumhanzu South Constituency, illegal gold panners from across the country rushed to the place, and the stampede resulted in fights as well as cases of violence, robberies that left many injured.
The community in which the precious mineral was discovered lived in fear to the extent that many were contemplating fleeing their homes for their dear lives.
Then the innovative Member of the House of Assembly for the constituency chipped in to save the lives of many.
Barbara Rwodzi, who is the Member of the House of Assembly for Chirumhanzu South constituency and also Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, soon after receiving information to the effect that there was restlessness in her constituency because of the gold rush, responded rapidly by negotiating with the Zimbabwe Police Service (ZPS) to man the area.
The Police also responded rapidly by deploying details who manned the place 24/7.
It was not easy for the police as well because the illegal panners did not retreat easily.
They played hide and seek with the police until the Member of the House of Parliament hatched a plan in line with ‘A Country is best built by its own people ‘( Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo)’ Mantra.
‘A COUNTRY IS BEST BUILT BY ITS OWN PEOPLE’ (NYIKA INOVAKWA NEVENE VAYO)’ Mantra.
Hon Rwodzi then sought permission from her superiors to formalise operations. Prospectors were invited to ascertain if it was necessary to set a mining claim; they came and did what they knew best
.The site was fenced, and a hammer mill was bought so that proper mining activities could commence.
That was the beginning of the fulfillment of the ‘A country is best built by its people’ (Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo) mantra.
A meeting was called to inform people in and around the community where the precious mineral was discovered that the mine was going to be theirs and mining activities were going to be carried out by them, whilst they were going to take the money realised with them.
The announcement attracted a big round of applause, ululation, whistles and all sought signs of relief.
Addressing the conveners, she said that everyone in the community was going to individually benefit from the gold that they would have found at the hammer mill while what will be realised from further processing of the slime (leaching) will go a long way in developing the community through roads rehabilitation and many other projects that will be agreed on, “At this stage you are going to take the money home with you but when further processing of slime will done the money will be used to develop the community at large,” amid a big round of applause.
Hon Rwodzi also urged parents to take advantage and pay school fees for their children, “When you get the money, please do not spend it extravagantly, pay fees for the children and buy food for the family”.
An official opening of the mine was then done, where rituals were performed in recognition of the spirits of the land.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, the Councillor for Ward 2,3, Margareth Mashasha, where the gold was discovered, implored the beneficiaries to carry out their activities in peace and harmony.
“I want to thank our leaders, our President for according us such an opportunity in our constituency, I want thank our MP for approaching her superiors on our behalf for the success of this landmark development, My solemn request to you as beneficiaries is that we have to work peacefully with love for one another so that we develop our community, I also want beg you to then pay tax to council so that council as local Government will be able to develop our community”.
Soon after the groundbreaking ceremony, members of the community were invited to start working in groups of ten people.
It was and is still all smiles for the people who are working at the mine in that order. Hunger and thirst became a thing of the past for people in Ward 23 of Chirumhanzu South Constituency.
“This is unprecedented in the annals of our area, let alone our constituency, now I am going to buy mealie meal without having begged anyone or doing a piece work at someone’s home, I have no words adequate to express my gratitude to the President of this country, my MP and my councillor”, said a beneficiary who preferred anonymity.
“These women are God given, we have had male MPs and Councillors in our constituency but they have never been so innovative as much as we have seen this this time, I don’t want to touch on the national level but forgive me to say that the coming in of President Emmerson Mnangagwa have changed our lives significantly”, said another villager.
The community is not only benefiting from gold exploration, but those who are enterprising are benefiting lucratively.
It has come to the attention of this reporter that those who are enterprising are getting a fair share of the spoils as they can sell their wares at the mine without hustle.
“Surely I am happy to have witnessed such a development in this Ward during my lifetime, imagine we now don’t have to wrestle with those vendors that are at Charandura Growth Point as we can sell our products here without playing hide and seek with the municipal Police,” said a confectionaries vendor at the mine.
Enterprising members in the community sell green mealies, soft drinks, ground nuts, bread, buns, vegetables and many different types of foodstuffs that the beneficiaries on duty might need to quench their thirst and hunger.
