Hundreds of residents of Musina spent last Monday repairing roads that were recently damaged by the floods. The initiative is part of Mayor Carol Phiri’s strategy of engaging community members in the running of the municipality.

Municipal workers, led by the municipal manager, Mr Johnson Mathivha, did not want to be left behind in this community-building initiative. All managers got down in the scorching sun with courage and enthusiasm.  Phiri says it was very important to do something with the community in the spirit of Vuk’uzenzele (do it yourself). “It will take some time before we mobilize resources and money to replace the roads and, as responsible citizens, we couldn’t just sit and relax while our communities needed improved lives out there.”

Phiri thanked everyone who took part during the initiative. “We are happy with the response we got from our community members who volunteered their time to come and assist here today. It is very important for us to sustain our noble spirit of joining hands, and to remind all of us of the need to entrench the spirit of Vuk’uzenzele. A lot of hard work lies ahead, and this requires each of us to lend a hand, in the true spirit of volunteerism and nation building.”

One of the community members who volunteered his time to fix the roads, Mr Abel Mbevhana, said "this is what we really call cooperative governance. I did not think twice when I heard that the mayor wants us to come and assist the municipality here today. I decided to put aside everything because I know that the community also benefit from our efforts. I encourage other community members to work hand in hand with our municipality to create a better life for all.”