Residents of Thokozani Flats in Ward 8, Mzilikazi have, over seven months, raised money to install eight solar panels at a community borehole, a display of unity and self-reliance that has finally brought reliable water to the area.
The US$680 project was funded entirely by residents, each contributing just one dollar.
On Wednesday, the community celebrated the official commissioning of their solarised borehole at Thokozani Flats in Bulawayo.
Former Bulawayo senator, Matson Hlalo, praised residents for taking action rather than waiting for assistance, noting that their unity had delivered real progress.
“We have shown that when we come together as a community, we can move forward and improve our own lives. This is something we did for ourselves and it is a strong example of what unity can achieve,” Hlalo said.
“But we should not stop here. There are still many challenges around us, and if we continue working together, we can solve even more problems.”
Chairperson of the Mzilikazi initiative in Ward 8, Jacob Magutshwa, explained how the project started and the challenges they faced along the way.
“We came together as residents and agreed that each person would donate one dollar. It was not easy at first because not everyone was able to contribute at the same time, but we stayed committed,” he said.
“After seven months, we managed to raise enough money to buy and install eight solar panels for the borehole.”
Magutshwa said the borehole’s solar system was designed in a way that makes it difficult to steal, as all the panels are connected.
“If someone tries to steal, they cannot just remove one panel because all of them are linked together. If one is removed, it will damage the whole system. Also, removing them would require tools like a grinder, which makes noise, so nearby residents can hear and respond quickly,” he said.
The residents’ leader also urged citizens to take responsibility for protecting the borehole.
“People who live near the borehole should always be alert and help protect it. This is our project, and we must take care of it,” said Magutshwa.
“Even children must understand that they should not throw stones at the panels because that can damage the system and affect water supply.”
Bulawayo Deputy Mayor, Edwin Ndlovu, also commended the initiative and said it demonstrated the power of community action.
“Working together as a community is a very beautiful thing. The time of waiting for the council or central government to do everything for us is no longer working. If we sit down and take action ourselves, we can succeed,” he said.
Ndlovu said the success of the project at Thokozani Flats shows residents can achieve a lot when they unite for a common goal.
“We started working together and now people have access to water. But we must also protect what we have built. Security should not be left to outsiders but the residents must look after their own borehole,” he said.
The deputy mayor added that water shortages remain a major challenge for Bulawayo.
“The issue is not just supplying water, but supplying it in large amounts. As a council, we are looking for more water sources and we are also planning to use solar power at our pumping stations because electricity is also a challenge,” Ndlovu said.
Ndlovu also stressed that unity will be key in solving challenges faced in the city.
“If communities continue to work together like this, we can achieve a lot and improve our living conditions,” he said.