By Simelokuhle Nyathi
NYANDENI villagers in Gwanda have welcomed the arrival of Buffalo Bicycles, saying the bicycles will help ease transport challenges and improve access to markets, healthcare and education.
The Buffalo Bicycles team recently visited the community to demonstrate the bicycles and train villagers in their maintenance and repair.
The programme included practical lessons for volunteers, who received additional training to become bicycle mechanics capable of carrying out basic repairs within the community.
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Speaking during the training, Buffalo Bicycles representative Muziwethu Sidambe said the organisation had been given a three-year period to operate in Gwanda and surrounding areas, including Nyandeni.
“We have done some programmes in Gwanda under education before. We distributed bicycles across all rural health centres of Gwanda District to frontline health workers known as Village Health Workers. This is just the beginning, as we are still dedicated to improving mobility and market accessibility in the rural communities,” Sidambe said.
He said the bicycles were designed to be durable if properly maintained.
“These bicycles can be used for a long period without damage if they are properly maintained,” he said.
One woman attending the training said she had used her Buffalo Bicycle for more than a decade without replacing any parts.
“Since I got this Buffalo Bicycle, I have had it for 13 years and I am still using it without changing any parts,” she said.
Participants said the training had equipped them with practical skills to repair the bicycles locally instead of travelling to Gwanda town.
“They taught us how to fix the bicycle from the beginning up to the end, including how to fix the attachment and the carrier,” one participant said.
Another volunteer mechanic said the skills would benefit the wider community.
“Now if the bike breaks in the village, we can fix it ourselves. We won’t have to wait for someone from town,” he said.
Village Health Workers were among the first beneficiaries of Buffalo Bicycles in Nyandeni and across Gwanda District.
Sidambe said the bicycles were provided to health workers free of charge to help them reach households more efficiently.
“We gave bicycles to Village Health Workers for free. They will use them to visit homes, carry medicine and reach people faster,” he said.
Village Health Worker Josephine Nkala said the bicycles would make it easier for health workers to conduct home visits.
“With these bicycles, we will be able to do more home visits and reach people who need our services,” Nkala said.
Sidambe said economically active community groups could also acquire the bicycles through an incentivised purchasing scheme.
“For the community, you are going to buy the bicycles, but it is easier when you buy as a group. Under the economic opportunities sector, community members buy the bicycles at an incentivised ratio of buy two bicycles and get one for free (2:1). However, this scheme is only available to groups or clubs.
“As Buffalo Bicycles Zimbabwe, we cannot give local farmers a market, but we can provide them with a tool to access the market,” Sidambe said.
The programme also supports education by providing bicycles to schoolchildren who travel long distances to school.
Parents in Nyandeni said they hoped more learners would eventually benefit, particularly those who walk several kilometres to school each day.
“Children could get to school faster if the bicycles are approved for learners. We are hoping the officers will approve them so that students who walk long distances each day can also benefit,” one parent said.
Farmers said the bicycles could make a significant difference for rural households struggling to transport agricultural produce and other goods.
Farmer Sanelisiwe Mpofu said the bicycles would reduce the burden of carrying heavy loads over long distances.
“With these bicycles, we can go to the market and carry our goods. We carry maize, vegetables and firewood. Before, it was difficult because we had to carry everything on our heads and backs. Now the bicycle will carry it,” Mpofu said.
The Buffalo Bicycle’s large front carrier allows users to transport heavy loads, making it particularly useful in rural communities where affordable transport options are limited.
Nyandeni Community Chairperson Patrick Ndlovu said the bicycles should be viewed as more than a means of transport.
“This is not just a bicycle, but it is a tool that will help our health, our businesses and our children’s education. It will carry our work,” Ndlovu said.
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