By Martin Muleya.
MUTARE, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – Sakubva Beit-hall is set to get a new face-lift next year after some former residents of Mutare’s oldest high density suburb pledged to help council renovate the facility.
In an interview with News Of The South during the handover ceremony of books worth $33 000 to nine local schools (primary and secondary), Rebuild Sakubva Executive Director, Lucia Nkomo said their primary objective is to bring back the glory associated with a high density suburb that nurtured most successful people in Mutare and beyond.
“Rebuild Sakubva is a grassroots organization which was started in 2011, with over 2000 members having been born and bred in Sakubva. We want to help government as well as the local council (Mutare City Council) to develop the already dilapidated infrastructure. We are members who are dotted all over the world and intend to rebuild a community with citizens and residents with a changed mind-set,” she said.
Nkomo said they want to renovate Sakubva Beit-hall to being a cinema with state-of-the art equipment that will help youngsters do entrepreneurial business like recording music without necessarily making the long trip to Harare.
“We need $150 000 to renovate Sakubva Beit-hall but so far we have managed to raise $60 000, which will kick start the renovations. As I am speaking right now, we are expecting a consignment with projectors, state-of-the-art public address system among other equipment to be used in the hall forSakubva residents ” she added.
Sakubva Beit-hall is one of the oldest entertainment centres build by the City of Mutare before independence but today it almost resembles a white elephant due to neglect by the local authority and residents.
Speaking at the same occasion, guest of honour, Mutare District Education Officer, Mr. Nathaniel Machini, commended RESA for ploughing back to the community that nurtured them.
He bemoaned the decline in the quality of grammar being used by students adding that social media has been a huge let down as students are now used to chatting using shortcuts.
“RESA has been providing technical and financial assistance since 2011 to the community of Sakubva. In addition, through various projects that have been supported by various organizations, the development efforts by RESA include the field of basic human needs such as health care and education.
“It is my hope that these books that have been donated will be put to good use, as it is disturbing to note that most of our children now cannot write or use correct grammar due to the use of shortcuts when they chat with friends on social media.
“It comes as no surprise to me that Rebuild Sakubva, still today is one of the leading local indigenous organizations within the vicinity of Sakubva. We are very pleased to observe the successful on-going help led by Rebuild Sakubva. We hope that their help in donation of books will serve to mitigate the problems of overcrowding per book by pupils in classrooms,” said Mr. Machini.
Ever since its inception, Rebuild Sakubva has donated more than 2000 text books worth over $20 000 to Sakubva Library in December 2013 and this year they managed to raise 5 136 Pounds for the treatment of a four year old boy who underwent four surgical operations at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare.
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