Tendai Chara
Chanakira’s assistant, Tendai Mharira, polishing an almost complete room divider, melodiously sings a church hymn as other carpenters go about their business.
A furniture “showroom” exhibiting various well-crafted products that range from single and double beds to shoe racks, television stands and bed bases, can be seen in the background.

The furniture products on display are trendy so well made that they match or even surpass those that are on display in major furniture stores in Harare’s central business district.
Despite the searing heat, the noise and what might appear to many people as hostile working conditions, Chanakira, of the recently resuscitated Kuwadzana 5 home industries, is a happy man.

“I am happy to be back here. I feel like the biblical Prodigal Son who has finally decided to go back to his roots,” a beaming Chanakira told The Sunday Mail In-Depth.
Chanakira, like the majority of the 42 operators at the Kuwadzana 5 home industries, used to operate a thriving furniture-manufacturing business at this site before

the illegal structures were razed to the ground during Operation Restore Order (Murambatsvina).

“I was devastated. I had invested a lot of money into the project and after the destruction of the structures, I decided to relocate to my rural home in Marange, Mutare,” added Chanakira.
A brief sojourn as an illegal diamond miner at the Chiadzwa diamond fields ended in another heartbreak as he was caught up during Operation Hakudzokwi (Do not return) in 2007.

This was an operation by the law-enforcement agencies designed to permanently remove the illegal miners from the diamond fields.
After two years of tilling the barren soils in Marange communal lands, Chanakira once again packed his bags and returned to Harare’s high-density suburb of Kuwadzana where he reignited his romance with his carpentry tools.

“It was very difficult when I came back to Harare. I did not have a place to work from. I tried to convince my landlord to allow me to do my carpentry business from his premises, but he flatly refused. I am thrilled to finally get a place from which I will work,” the father of three said. The gods finally smiled on Chanakira last month when a community-initiated programme resulted in the resuscitation of the Kuwadzana 5 home industries.

A visit by The Sunday Mail In-Depth to the home industry site, which is located between Kuwadzana 5 and Kuwadzana Extension, revealed that the occupants of the site are hardworking people who are determined to put past disappointments aside and prosper.
“We are currently engaging the city council with the intention of getting temporary leases to operate from these premises.

“As a community, we are prepared to pool resources and help the council install all the necessary infrastructure like running water, sewage and electricity,” said Joel Gundumure, who chairs the committee that is currently engaging council.
Although the majority of the occupants of the stands are carpenters, there are plenty of brick moulders and panelbeaters who are also eyeing a piece of the cake but the unavailability of electricity and running water seems to be major setbacks for the entrepreneurs.

The youthful Gundumure explained why his members elected to return to the piece of land that reminds the majority of the present occupants of the sad Murambatsvina chapter.

“Landlords are demanding a monthly fee of $120. The majority of them were harassing our members complaining that they were littering their yards and making noise. We then decided to engage the council and as of now we are happy to be here although we are yet to receive final council approval,” Gundumure said.
If granted the temporary leases, Gundumure said that his members will be able to access loans that other businesses in the small to medium sector are getting.

“We are doing this in the spirit of empowerment and indigenisation. We are creating employment for previously unemployed youngsters whom we offer part-time jobs.
“As you can see, women are now operating canteens nearby, meaning that our project is benefiting the community. As responsible citizens, we are more than ready to pay council taxes,” he said.

According to Gundumure, those who are using the industrial site are required to pay $10 monthly, an amount he said will go towards the payment of people who guard the site at night.
Gundumure’s deputy, Pharoah Matare, chipped in: “We know that council might not have adequate resources to cater for the development of this place. We are saying that we can pool resources and build the required structures.

“What we simply need from the authorities is the land.”
Lifious Dhaure, a beneficiary, said business was booming.
“We are having customers from as far as Budiriro and Glen Norah.

“The advantage that we have over other carpenters operating in Glen View is that we use a much harder type of wood as compared to the softwood that most carpenters from other areas use. Because of that, customers are steadily flocking to us,” he said.
Kuwadzana Ward 38 Councillor Wellington Njanjasi said he acted as the “go-between” between the council and the occupants.

“What we are saying is that we want to empower local communities.
“I am currently engaging council on behalf of the community with the intention of setting up permanent home industry structures in Kuwadzana 5. The occupants of the stands will temporarily use this piece of land until they are allocated permanent stands by the council,” Clr Njanjasi said.