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Business Correspondent
THE Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust continues to transform livelihoods with about $2.5 million channelled to development projects two years since its inception.
President Mugabe launched the programme aimed at transforming community lives in May 2012 as part of the on-going indigenisation drive.
Participating companies poured $3 million seed capital into the trust with Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC) handing $1.5 million, Blanket Mine $1 million, Jessie Mine $250,000 and Farvic Mine $30,000.

Blanket Mine also gave the trust a $4 million loan. Vumbachikwe Mine refused to participate in the scheme.
“Since inception the trust undertook a number of projects in the areas of agriculture, health and education. More than $2.5 million has been channelled towards community projects,” Coster Nkala, the trust’s administrator, said.

He said during the 2013/14 financial year, the trust focused on education to ensure the provision of a conducive learning environment to rural children.
So far the trust has completed construction of laboratories at Ntepe and Mzimuni High Schools. “We intend to commission the two completed science laboratories soon but laboratories at Sibona, Selonga and Gungwe are yet to be completed,” said Nkala.

“The aim is to promote science education in Gwanda area in view of the newly established Gwanda State University
“We’re also constructing five classroom blocks at Betsa, Bhalula Primary schools, Mabheka, Sibhula and Maphane Secondary Schools. We also bought furniture for these classrooms.”

He said the trust also furnished eight classrooms at Mkwidzi Secondary School and was paying fees for a disadvantaged student doing first year at the National University of Science and Technology.

Nkala said a programme to avail loans for women and youths was underway to support their income generating projects.
During its first financial year ending June 30 last year the trust focused on health and food security, which resulted in construction of a new clinic and four F14 houses at Silikwe, benefiting 2,856 households.

Funding was also used to refurbish Sitezi and Mapate clinics, rehabilitate Guyu-Chelesa and Sukwe irrigation schemes.
The trust also secured a borehole drilling rig used for generating income.