Zimpapers Logo

Mkhululi Ncube/ Nqobile Bhebhe

Mrs Tracy Makhwelo a widow from Village one in Hope Fountain, Umguza District has been living in grass thatched huts since marrying into the Makhwelo family.

Due to climate induced weather changes, she has to buy roofing grass periodically to reroof her huts which was a challenge since she survives on menial jobs in the village.

But from yesterday she said goodbye to sleeping in a thatched hut as she is moving into a two- roomed house made of bricks and has been plastered, painted and will soon be electrified, thanks to the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC). 

Mrs Makhwelo is part of 29 new home owners  whose houses were built by the ZPC in Hope Fountain and other surrounding areas.

The villagers had to move to pave way for a 310 km high voltage power line transmitting electricity from Hwange Power Station to Insukamini.

The power line runs through their old homesteads and they had to be moved to new areas but under improved conditions.

‘The new houses are very beautiful and we are very happy about the development. I was using two huts which are all thatched and every two years I had to re-roof it due to termites but for now I will forget all about that. Once they connect electricity we will be the envy of other villagers who were not affected by the power line. In a way this was a blessing in disguise for us,” she said.

ZPC hand over houses

 Another beneficiary, Mrs Georgina Sibanda, expressed gratitude to President Mnangagwa for assisting the community in receiving decent houses.

“I’m grateful to President Mnangagwa for assisting us to get new houses. Zesa Holdings officials  promised to build new houses for the affected people and today they handed over the house they promised,” she said. 

Chief Deli said the whole community was happy with the project but at first people feared Zesa was not going to fulfil its promise.W