ZEGU Department of Development
Studies level 2.1 students marry theory with practice
Community
Share Ownership Trusts (CSOTs) in Zimbabwe are viewed as vehicles to promote community
development in rural communities. The government of Zimbabwe launched the concept of CSOTs
to empower indigenous communities living in areas rich in natural resources;
thus, giving communities a 10 percent stake in all
businesses that exploit natural resources in their areas.
It
is because of such an observation that the Department of Development Studies
saw it prudent for the 2:1 students studying a module on Rural Development in
Africa to marry theory and practice by embarking on an academic tour to
Mhondoro –Ngezi. The tour was designed in a way to facilitate student’s observation
and analysis of the realities of CSOTs in promoting rural development.
The
projects in the 4 sites that the students visited were sponsored by the
Mhondoro-Ngezi, Chegutu, Zvimba Community Share Ownership Trust to the tune of
$ 55 000 under the Trust’s Social Development Projects where 50% of the
Trust funds are channelled towards social development projects. Forty percent (40%)
of the Trust funds are channelled towards enterprise development and women
empowerment programmes and the remaining 10% is for Youth Empowerment Programmes.
The construction of the foot bridge was funded under the social development
projects where as the construction of two fowl runs in the ward was done as a
way of empowering the community through creating employment particularly for
rural women and youths. The Trust also helped in empowering the youths through
the construction of a Vocational Training Centre where different livelihood
skills are imparted on the youths.
Mhondoro-Ngezi Academic
Tour in pictures:
Development Studies 2;1
students & staff on an educational tour in Mhondoro-Ngezi
From left is Mr Mhembwe
(Chairperson Development Studies at ZEGU), Mr Phiri (CEO of the Trust) ZEGU
students & far right is Chief Mushava (one of the Board members of the
Trust)
Projects funded by the
Trust in ward 8 : Foot bridge
Cluster
house at Domboshava clinic
Newly constructed
semi-detached houses at Domboshava clinic
Fowl run under
construction at Dondoshava Primary School
The CEO explaining constraints
over the delay in completing the project to the students inside the fowl run under
construction
A back-up generator for
power purchased by the Trust for one of the fowl runs in ward 8
Fowl run used by the community for the production of broilers as well as point of lay birds
Some
of the community members seen working on the fowl run disinfecting feeding
trough
Mhondoro-Ngezi Vocational
Training
Vocational training centre that was constructed through funds from the Trust
