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. “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.
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“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.
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