By Ndumiso Tshuma
Residents of Malanswa Village in Ward 14, Bulilima, Matabeleland South, have launched a grassroots campaign to improve safety and social infrastructure in their community by constructing both a local police base and a multi-purpose community hall.
Driven by a growing concern over rising crime and the lack of nearby police services, villagers have begun pooling resources to establish a police base that they believe will deter criminals and restore peace. The nearest police station is located far from Malanswa, making response times to incidents painfully slow.
“We are tired of the crime in our area. People are living in fear,” said project manager Bongani Mafusi. “We decided it’s time to stand up and do something ourselves.”
Mafusi said the police base will be centrally located to ensure officers can respond quickly to emergencies. Households have committed to contributing R100 each toward the construction effort.
“Even though we don’t have much, everyone is giving what they can. We are doing this together because we want a better, safer future for our children,” he added.
Beyond security, Mafusi believes the police base will bring additional services closer to residents. Plans are in place to facilitate cattle sales, registration of burial orders, and other essential functions from the new facility.
“This base is more than a building, it’s a symbol of our unity and determination,” Mafusi said.
In another initiative, community members, led by village mothers and local churches, are also constructing a community hall near the business centre. The hall is expected to serve multiple purposes, from church services and social events to shelter during emergencies.
“It was initiated by the people,” said project coordinator Simisani Mpuri. “Currently, most gatherings are held at schools, which causes confusion and affects learning. The hall will give us a dignified space for our events.”
Mpuri noted that while the project has strong local support, raising funds has proved challenging due to the area’s reliance on financial assistance from relatives living abroad.
“We would welcome government assistance. But we also want people to understand that community development starts with us,” she said.
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