mbulelo smpofu
Ashley Phiri, ashleyphiri66@gmail.com
THE Herald hosted its inaugural Community Heroes Awards on Monday night to honour the country’s unsung heroes and heroines who work tirelessly to transform their communities.
The awards celebrated outstanding individuals from each of Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces, shining a spotlight on those whose altruistic contributions often go unnoticed.
Among the notable honourees were Chief Dakamela from Nkayi District in Matabeleland North and Mrs Babongile Gora, co-founder of the Mudi Wa Pfulufhelo Safe Haven in Beitbridge.
Other recipients from the Matabeleland region included Mr Obert Dube and Mr Pick Nkomwa from Matabeleland South, as well as Ms Sazini Tshuma and one Mrs Chingombe from Bulawayo.
They each received a certificate of recognition, a food hamper, a Herald T-shirt and 50 road runner chicks to be delivered today.
In an interview, Chief Dakamela expressed his gratitude and humility for receiving the award.
“It is a humbling experience to be chosen among so many people doing amazing things for their communities. The award was unexpected,” he said.
Chief Dakamela, who assumed leadership in 2019, believes true leadership involves addressing community challenges and driving development.
“As a chief, you are automatically a community leader, and it is up to you to spearhead the development of your community. I am driven by the misfortunes of the people in my community, such as a lack of shelter, children dropping out of school and lawlessness,” he said.
“I am just trying to make the community better with the guidance from God, my ancestors and the people themselves.”
Under his leadership, Chief Dakamela launched several transformative projects, which include the Dakamela Housing Scheme, which provides homes for underprivileged and elderly residents, the Isiphala SeNkosi initiative, where households contribute maize to bolster local food security and facilitated the acquisition of a seven-tonne truck for hire and establishment of three grinding mills to stimulate local economic activity.
Proceeds from these ventures have funded secondary school education for children and the construction of seven homes for vulnerable community members. Chief Dakamela called for partnerships with organisations and the diaspora to address infrastructure challenges, particularly poor road conditions that hinder investment in Nkayi.
“As a community, we are trying to uplift ourselves, but some projects need other partners. Road rehabilitation, for instance, requires Government support because it is a major hindrance to development,” he said.
Looking ahead, Chief Dakamela announced plans for the Imiklomela kaDakamela Awards in April, aimed at promoting culture and recognising individuals contributing to community development.
“These awards are more than just about honouring people; they are a platform to promote culture and exchange ideas on how we can progress as a community,” he said.
Mrs Gora, a social worker and mother of five, shared her inspiring journey. In 2019, she and her husband, Mr Claude Gora, established the Mudi Wa Pfulufhelo Safe Haven, a non-profit organisation supporting survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
“We founded this organisation after discovering a gap in service provision for SGBV survivors. Many service providers offer partial support, and survivors are often sent back to the same environment where they were abused,” she said.
The Safe Haven provides temporary shelter for survivors, offering psycho-social support, life skills training and service referrals. Mrs Gora also emphasised the organisation’s outreach efforts, including community sensitisation meetings and men’s conferences aimed at addressing issues affecting men and reducing suicide rates.
Mrs Gora emphasised the importance of outreach in addressing societal challenges.
“We are truly humbled to receive this award. It’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Safe Haven team. Most importantly, we are grateful to make a positive impact in the lives of people,” she said.
