The Sunday Mail
Zvimba district in Mashonaland West province is blessed with rich soils and excellent climatic conditions.
Located in Natural Region 2a with rainfall ranging between 750mm to 1 000mm, the district’s main agricultural activities include horticulture, fish and crocodile farming and eco-tourism.
Primarily a farming and ranching district, crops such as tobacco, maize and cotton, among others, easily flourish in this district.
Although Ward 25 of Zvimba Rural District Council is located near Harare, meaningful development has seemingly eluded this peri-urban area. The majority of the roads are in a state of disrepair.
Motorists find it difficult to travel from Pamatombo village a few kilometres from Harare’s Dzivarasekwa suburb, to Lilifordia School and beyond.
Apart from the bad roads, people who sell sand for building are causing havoc as they have left huge swathes of prime land with deep gullies. Harare residents are compounding the locals’ woes by turning the area into a dumping site, threatening both human and animal life.
The onset of the rainy season brought more misery to children attending Umzururu and Royden schools. On numerous occasions, some pupils failed to attend lessons because of the flooded Muzururu River.
The commissioning of a footbridge which crosses the Muzururu River brought with it relief and joy.
Local businessman Mr Ruzai Muchaurawa came to the rescue of the community after he donated the steel foot bridge.
Mr Phillimon Mudhimbo, a local, said the footbridge would go a long way in enhancing livelihoods.
“Our children failed to attend classes for close to two weeks as the river was flooded. It is now easy and safe for us to cross this crocodile-infested river as we go about our daily businesses. As a community, we do not know how to thank Mr Muchaurawa,” Mr Mudhimbo said.
The footbridge links Upweir, Creek and other surrounding farms to Royden and Muzururu farms. School children cross the river to get to Royden Primary and Secondary schools. There is also a service centre at Royden Farm.
Mr Muchaurawa (42) said, “Children risked their lives by crossing this river.
I simply joined together old trailers and came up with a foot bridge. This was basic engineering.”
Mr Muchaurawa is credited with bringing development to Ward 25 after he opened Pamatombo Village, a shopping mall that houses close to 40 businesses.
“When I started this project, some people laughed at me, saying the location was not good for business. The same people are now enquiring about renting space here,” he added.
A philanthropist, Mr Muchaurawa has donated building materials to Royden, Parklands and Umzururu schools.
He has helped youths start sustainable sand extracting projects and he is also constructing a clinic and establishing a home for the elderly and an orphanage.
Born in Gutu, Mr Muchaurawa is a self-made businessman who started off as a landscaper before becoming an auctioneer and building contractor.
