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Without Them, Mat’land Would’ve Turned Into Ruins. Hats Off To Diasporans!

Diaspora community doing what the national government has failed to do for the Matabeleland region.


BY DIVINE DUBE | EDITORIAL DIRECTOR | @Village_scribe | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | MAY 21, 2021

From the construction of clinics and schools, to the funding of public hospitals and rehabilitation of poor roads; the diaspora community has done what the national government has failed to do for the Matabeleland region in more than four decades.


BULAWAYO (The Citizen Bulletin) — There is a general sentiment that the national government is not doing enough to address development gaps in the region of Matabeleland. Proponents of this school of thought argue that the systematic marginalization of the region began during the 1980s genocide now famously known as Gukurahundi.

Since 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, our newsroom—The Citizen Bulletin—has reported with dedication about deep rooted challenges bedeviling Matabeleland. We shone a light in some of the darkest corners in rural Matabeleland and surfaced glaring development gaps in underserved communities such as Binga, Hwange and others.

Our well-rounded journalism has not only brought on spotlight issues long ignored by the traditional press largely controlled by the state, but has given credence to what activists from the region have always lamented: underdevelopment of the region of Matabeleland, a crisis blamed on the central government—the Harare administration.

From dilapidated schools, ill-equipped hospitals and potholed roads; the state of infrastructure in the region which ironically boasts of goldmines, timber and coal amongst others shows neglect, deliberate marginalization or both. Efforts by locals to hold the central government accountable have yielded nothing. At worst, people from the region of Matabeleland have been labelled “crybabies” and others arrested and incarcerated for urging authorities to decentralise government functions, a demand enshrined in the 2013 Constitution.

However, seeing that what they are yearning for could remain a pie in the sky, some Matabeleland citizens based in the diaspora, in particular South Africa and the United Kingdom amongst others, have risen to the occasion. In the past few weeks, our news outlet has been reporting about the incredible work which is spearheaded by diaspora members of the Matabeleland community. In this Bulletin, we report about an initiative in which some members of the diaspora community from Bulilima, Matabeleland South have chipped in to ease poor access to books in local schools.

From the construction of clinics and schools, to the funding of public hospitals and rehabilitation of poor roads; the diaspora community has done what the national government has failed to do for the region of Matabeleland in more than four decades. For that reason, we would like to say ‘hats off’ to diasporans for their sterling development initiatives and for serving our region from turning into ruins. Had it not been for their resilience and passion for community development, most of our communities would be ravaged by underdevelopment and a sea of poverty.

Over the past decade, we have seen a situation where the national government complements efforts by local populations in the development of their communities yet in countries with proper government systems, it should be the other way round. While we commend diasporans for their ardent work, we are dismayed that many a times quasi-government institutions such as the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) throw spanners on the way, making it hard for diaspora groups and associations to contribute to the development of local communities.


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Recently, we heard that a certain community failed to get an ambulance donated by members of the diaspora to support a local clinic because of unnecessary bottlenecks within ZIMRA. We implore the Mnangagwa’s administration to ensure that diaspora associations and other local development groups get the maximum support they need to contribute to the development of their communities, and by extension their country. This includes ensuring that they import duty-free equipment and other resources meant for community development.

In the coming weeks, we plan to profile as many changemakers in the diaspora as we can to spotlight their amazing work. We believe this will not only motivate them to do more for our communities, but will inspire others elsewhere to do the same for the neighborhoods where the national government is absent. If you know someone in the diaspora leading positive change and social progress in Matabeleland, please kindly get in touch with us through email [This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.] or WhatsApp [+263 71 863 6459]. We’d love to hear from you.