Grinding Mill Project: A necessity

Interviewer: Jacob Mumpande Date: 21 May 2014 Venue: Musuna Grinding Mill

In 2009, Firelight Foundation supported a project targeting Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVCs) here in Musuna. As a group of Home Based Care Givers we led this initiative and were tasked to select an income earning activity from the three originally enlisted projects which are;

·         Goat rearing

·         Gardening

·         Grinding Mill

We dropped Goat rearing project because of lessons learnt from the similarly Lubhancho supported project which was literally a failure. The garden project was also dropped because it was viewed as not viable due to lack of arable land. The grinding mill was ultimately pursued and supported by village leaders and local councillor. The committee had managed to pull resources together from well-wishers and business people in a fashion of the community ownership share scheme. Community contribution was significant at construction stage through labour provisions on collection of pit and river sand, quarry stone as well as providing workmanship. The grinding mill now generates an average $250 each month and this used on running costs and funding educational support. However expenditure patterns break even.

When the grinding mill structure was set up and milling services were functional, several benefits accrued to the community and as well as OVCs who were primary targets as detailed underneath.

Firstly, distance to the nearest grinding mill in Makwa (located 25km away) was reduce once the grinding services were provided locally. Local people used to walk daily to Makwa for milling. The project is now serving 9 villages namely; Dambwamunkulu, Sinebhibhi, Kanejola, Kanjezi, Mapakoendavu, Pingileni, Musuna Hills, Chinoni and Chunga. An average of 40 households per each village are subsequently benefiting from the project on milling their grain.

Secondly, as a community we reduced abuse cases for girl children who usually frequented Makwa for grinding services. These girl children were being waylaid by soldiers and policeman at that time and this scenario was at an unabated levels.

Thirdly, there was success on taking children to school as primary objective of the project. Most OVCs had not been managing to proceed to secondary school due to challenges on user fees. Tawanda Ncube benefited from school fees and food and had since completed his secondary level; Devine Manjankosi got fees for two terms and food hampers before being shifted to BEAM; Mayford Tshuma benefited from school uniforms, stationery, fees and food and proceeds from the grinding mill are currently paying for his ‘’A” level at Binga High School; whereas Tichaona Munkuli and Lungile Sibanda benefited from fees and food hampers also. The said beneficiaries got support all through the form four. Currently, we are supporting three pupils from grinding mill proceeds.

The utmost momentous change perceived by the two CPC formations (adult and child led); and attributed by entire community is reduction in child abuse cases in the ward.  As HBCG, we confirm reduction in HIV prevalence rate in young people which was initially caused by exposure of young children in secluded areas as they made their way to Makwa for grinding services. Sexual related abuse had been topical in Musuna and our community give testimony that indeed child abuse has gone down. This reduction in abuse cases is deemed significant because rape cases had been reduced considerably as well as STI/HIV and AIDS prevalence rate. Children were physically abused as lower primary pupils would that time before the grinding mill seen carrying 20kg of grain to a distance 25km to get to the grinding mill. 

Forward planning for the project is completing workmanship at the grinding mill and use storerooms to put deep freezer to rent out to fish traders. The project had so far put up extra material to resume refurbishment of the structure. The project is also exploring other means of expanding the project in terms of service provisions like ordering bulk maize in high production zones like Lusulu (Binga) and produce, process and package straight run mealie-meal in light of value addition.

As a grinding mill committee we had been voluntarily providing administrative service as well as labour to ensure the project is carried forward. The only benefit for committee members had been milling for a free once in each month.

Enhanced Social Status

Interviewers: Jacob Mumpande and Blessing Munkuli    Date: 23 July 2014

Metron Muleya during the interview

In 2003 my father died when I was still at primary school and my mother was faced with torrid times raising fees for me, my elder sister and siblings. Inheritance of my father’s estate depleted productive assets like livestock and there were certainly no safety nets for optional pursuance for social expenditure like education. Besides the resource challenges, I used to walk 9 kilometres one way to the nearest primary school.   My education was headed for extermination.   My family situation really got worse when I went to secondary school.

As the situation was tipping off, my sister’s husband took over responsibility on user fees from meagre earnings from his employment as a driver. Due to paltry resources I went to school with inadequate material as compared to other children and used to be sent out of school for non-payment and or failing to meet other school material requirements. This had immense psychological effect on me.  In as much as my sister’s husband took over the burden from my mother; I was still not settled at all because this meant more responsibilities apart from struggling with insufficient income to take care for his own family.

I had exceptional performance at grade seven final examinations and in form one in 2006, Capernaum Trust paid my school fees at Binga High School. However I was dropped in midterm in 2007 for indistinct reasons and was highly affected to get to terms with dropping school which seemed probable. At the time when my brother in law was making transfer arrangements for me to Manjolo Secondary School which is in rural Sikalenge; Basilwizi Trust through its Education Support project supported me with school fees up to form four three in 2009. I was actually recommended by school staff. Under Basilwizi Trust support, my mother managed to make small servings earned from vending and used this income to send other siblings to school and at times used the money towards school material.

Jacob Mupande (right) taking down notes during the interview

At ‘O’ level results I attained 9 ‘O’ level (with 8 subjects scored in one sitting).  At Advanced level I scored 8 points from 2 subjects (Economics and Business Management). I later scored a point after I studied on my own from home to make a total of 9 points at Advanced level. 

I am now an educated woman and my intellectual being earned me a job as Finance Officer at Zubo Trust; a women empowerment organisation focused on promoting women and girl child’s rights in the Zambezi Valley. Now that I am working, I sent my elder sister back to school who had failed her initial ‘O’ level sitting and I also pay fees for my sister who is now in form three. My elder sister now has 4 ‘O’ level passes. I am similarly providing for family essential needs back at home. I contribute towards family food expenditure and essentials like sanitary ware.

In 2011, I decided to upgrade myself and enrolled for an Honours Degree in Accounting and Financial Management at Lupane State University through a block format. I chose the block format because of its flexibility to allow students to be studying whilst employed. This arrangement enables me to raise money and fund my own education.

The most significant change is social status I earn in my society through my education which opened my mind to make informed choices as I prepare to shape my future. Many girl children envy my small achievements so far realized. Passing my ‘O’ level is very substantial benefit to me because if I was out of school at tender age I would be having illogical ideas about building my future. I know for sure that lack of occupation was going to push me into early marriage and eventually would be a mother of several children at this point. My community appreciate that a girl child can be a future leader through determination. My success to date has led to changes in the way communities view education today. For example, as a beneficiary, I am now able to pay my siblings school fees and even providing the family with some other needs. This then translates to poverty reduction and time for girl children to realize that they can also make changes in their families.   

Young girls are learning from my career path to success and passing my Ordinary level had positive trickle down effect both at personal level and community. Young as I am; I am regarded as a household head and economically active. I also make decisions and relevant advices to community and women’s groups in my community. Community is now sending their girl children with consented effort to school as a way of empowering them and ushering them into novel life skills. The number of school drop outs has further reduced in Manjolo and Sikalenge community since parents have realized

the importance of education. Early and forced marriages as a way of getting bride price had been reduced too since many girl children are occupied with their education and have gained confidence on their rights. Previously, girl children were reserved for marriages and boys for herding cattle and nowadays they are all taken to school with a similar attitude for success and benefiting equally.

I wish Basilwizi Trust continues fundraising for the education support, especially for the girl child because the girl child has very little chance to bounce back to the preferred career path once she miss orientation and guidance whilst in school.   Out of 5 pupils supported with fees only two were girls and this depicts a very big gender disparity which needs urgent notice and attention. The motivating aspect from this support is that all the five pupils supported passed their ordinary level.