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Freeman Razemba Features Writer
Curious, quirky, incomprehensible and ultimately sad. This could best explain the situation in some parts of Mutoko East where families, including polygamous ones, use a single hut to cook and sleep.
In a rural area where land and materials to build even the most rudimentary shelters are in abundance, it is odd that people can live under such conditions.

But for 300 families in this area, it is not a matter of choice: most of them are disabled, orphaned and poor.

Some men living in these conditions even have two wives and more than five children living under one roof.

Luckily, some of the families were recently rescued from their desperate situation after local businessman Mr Richard Musiyiwa and his colleagues mobilised resources to build houses for the disadvantaged.

The project looks at building decent accommodation for more than 300 vulnerable families in Mutoko East.

The families will get a two-roomed house, a set of kitchen chairs and a bed.

Mbuya Maria Kamunere, a beneficiary, could not hide her joy after a two-roomed house was recently constructed at her homestead.

“I am very happy since I only live with my grandson, Enock whose mother died and we used to share this same room. My other four daughters are married now and they live in very far places,” she said.

Last year, Mr Musiyiwa embarked on a project to build houses and supply furniture to villagers and widows in the area as part of giving back to the community.

He has so far built five two-roomed houses whose occupants have already moved into their houses.

However, there are over 300 more people in need of shelter in the area although it is an ongoing programme.

Each house and property cost $1 800.

Another beneficiary, Willard Nyamuzinga of Muhomba Village under Chief Chimoyo in Mutoko East constituency, is disabled after injuring his spinal cord after a mine shaft he was working in collapsed in 2012 in Makaha area, Mutoko.

He is married with four children.

“I feel like crying. I have been living with my four children in this small hut for several years. The hut was our bedroom, kitchen and a storeroom for some of the little equipment we had.”

Nyamuzinga was also staying with his aged mother who is partially blind.

Mr Musiyiwa said the project was inspired by the need to assist several families failing to build decent accommodation for their families.

“I started the project last year after I discovered that one of the villagers, a woman, was homeless. I built a two-roomed house for her and provided her with a bed and some kitchen chairs from one of my shops,” he said.

Mr Musiyiwa has roped in traditional leaders in the area who help in identifying vulnerable people.

“I also provide all the building materials and with the help of other villagers, we then build the houses for the beneficiaries,” he said.

Councillor Tafirenyika Mburundu of Ward 19 in Mutoko East said a lot of development was needed in the area.

“A lot needs to be done in this area. We have school shortages and there are a lot of vulnerable people who cannot fend for themselves and need assistance. As you can see our area is a dry area,” he said.

Mr Jeremiah Zambezi who is Chief Chimoyo welcomed the project saying it would go a long way in assisting the vulnerable people in the area.

“I am happy with the project by Mr Musiyiwa who has decided to give back to the community. The project is important as it also assists to develop the area by providing decent accommodation to the villagers,” he said.

Chief Chimoyo urged other businessmen to emulate Mr Musiyiwa’s example in catering for the disadvantaged in their communities across Zimbabwe.

He urged Government to assist in constructing schools and bridges in the area as this was negatively affecting their children’s rights to education. Some of the children are reportedly walking distances between five to 15 kilometres to attend school. There are also reports that some of the children do not attend lessons during the rainy season since most of the rivers they cross would be flooded.

Chief Chimoyo said school children in his area only attend lessons during the first two terms.

“We are facing quite a number of problems in this area. We have Nyamuzizi River which has no bridge and during the rainy season it would be flooded, making it difficult for school children to cross and go to school.

“They only attend lessons for two terms only and we would like to call on Government to assist us by constructing a bridge,” he said.

Some villagers said in 1987, four pupils drowned while attempting to cross the river on their way home from school.

He said there was need for people and various stakeholders to work together towards developing the area.

Project co-ordinator Mr Ingidzai Kapondoro of Kapondoro Village expressed hope that Government and stakeholders would also chip in and assist the villagers.

“Since independence people in this area have been farming but the problem is that this is a low rainfall area. That is the reason why some of the people go for gold panning while others sell the few livestock they have,” he said.

According to villagers, there is a man who had been living in a small hut with his two wives and four children.

A few years ago, the man left his children to use the hut while he lived in a baobab tree in the mountains.

During the night most of the people would notice fire flames in the mountain, as a sign that he was ‘home’.

One American author, Tony Snow, once said, “Somewhere near you, somebody right now is trying to help the indigent and poor – providing food, shelter, clothing or simple kindness.”

It is with this in mind that people wonder whether all Zimbabweans have achieved their desire to find shelter or at least for a man to provide decent shelter for his family.

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