For nearly two months, the eastern part of Neshuro Growth Point lay cloaked in darkness—its homes silent, its wires cold.
The transformer, once a lifeline, had been felled by a bolt of lightning in April, plunging the area into a long and uncertain blackout. Yet, from that darkness emerged not despair, but the steady flame of unity.
Today, the lights are back on.
Thanks to the concerted efforts of both the community and ZESA, power has been restored. But this triumph wasn’t born overnight—it was forged in the spirit that has long defined the people of Neshuro East. From the very moment they were allocated their residential stands, the residents came together to shape not just roads and homes, but a living, breathing community.
“We’re overjoyed,” said Mr. Musingafi, a local resident, as light returned to homes once dim. “We truly commend the efforts of ZESA’s district head, Mr. Rupenga, for his swift response. Imagine two months without electricity—here, where the Honourable Member of Parliament resides, alongside SCORE, a vital community organisation. Even the MP was in the dark—literally—and worked through proper channels to resolve the crisis. He too played his part, just like everyone else—and went a step further by providing transport for the team, coordinating closely with ZESA personnel to ensure the restoration of power. That’s leadership we can believe in.”
While some voices in the media tried to tarnish the reputations of those leading the charge, the community stood firm. Their resolve, like their roots, ran deep. Four names rose like pillars in the night: Mr. Muzvidziwa Maxwell, Mr. Musingafi, Mr. Sibanda, and Mr. Mahlangano—men who kept the wheels turning when things threatened to fall apart.
Guided by the national mantra, “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo / Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo”—a nation is built by its own people—the residents have taken their fate into their own hands. “This isn’t just about electricity,” one elder said beneath the mango tree that has watched generations rise. “It’s about knowing that when we act together, we are unstoppable. It gives us a sense of ownership, of purpose.”
And with ownership comes responsibility. The transformer, once taken for granted, is now seen with reverence. “We will guard it,” said a youth leader. “This blackout taught us what it means to lose what binds us.”
But Neshuro’s story isn’t an isolated tale. Across the nation, in clinics and corridors of care, similar winds of change are blowing. The government, determined to revitalise the health sector and other public services, is pushing ahead with urgency and hope. And while some critics insist that such burdens belong solely to state agencies, communities like Neshuro know the truth: in a turbulent economy, waiting can be the death of progress.
With the vision of His Excellency lighting the path, many believe a day will come when such grassroots interventions are no longer necessary—when every parastatal operates at full capacity, and every household, clinic, and school shines bright with promise.
Until then, Neshuro East stands as a beacon. A place where power was restored not just through cables and wires, but through people—united, unshaken, and unbreakable.
Chana CheMasvingo the Wordsmith
0775125488
