The Bulawayo Community Gardens - a ZDDT Programme

ZDDT News

New Dawn at Sizinda Community Gardens

07 August, 2019 |

Gardeners of Sizinda community garden have elected a new committee which is will run the affairs of the garden for the next 12months.

ZDDT News

Emganwini’s Green Field Garden “an Oasis of New life”

29 July, 2019 |

Statistics released by Famine Early Warning Systems show that at least 37% of the urban populace in Zimbabwe require food aid and this dire situation means that about 1.7 million people in urban areas will go hungry.

ZDDT News

Australian Embassy Staffers Visit Greenfields

11 July, 2019 |

Recently staffers from the Australian Embassy in Zimbabwe, visited Emganwini’s Greenfields project where they were briefed on the benefits derived by locals from the Sally Foundation-funded market garden development.

ZDDT News

Permaculture Empowers School

12 March, 2019 |

Mgombane Primary School in Bulawayo’s Nkulumane township has never been the same again since the learning centre embraced permaculture, noted coordinator of the project, Lindiwe Gumunyu.

Our Partnership with the Sally Foundation

ZDDT News

Garden Beneficiaries Thrilled By Roche Visit

06 January, 2018 |

There was singing, dancing, ululation, as well as whistling, as Mike Roche of Sally Foundation arrived at the newly-established Greenfields Garden in Bulawayo’s neat and orderly but impoverished Emganwini Township.

ZDDT News

ZDDT Commended

13 October, 2017 |

Councillor for Bulawayo’s Ward 28, which covers Cowdray Park Township, Collet Ndlovu, has commended the Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust (ZDDT)’s monthly Business Social Credit Scheme (BSCS) as a step in the right direction.

ZDDT News

Elderly Nkulumane Women Benefit

16 August, 2017 |

Two elderly women, Sana Nyoni, 99, and Irene Matafeni, 76, both of Nkulumane, are the latest beneficiaries of the Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust (ZDDT)’s Business Social Credit Scheme (BSCS).

ZDDT News

Sizinda Garden Commercialisation

16 August, 2017 |

On August 4, the Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust (ZDDT), officially launched the commercialisation component of the Sizinda Community Garden, a development aimed at increasing income for beneficiaries.

Stars of Zimbabwe

Stars of Zimbabwe

ZDDT Honours Star of Zimbabwe

02 April, 2019 |

The Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust (ZDDT) recently honoured outstanding community volunteer, Mpopoma’s Moses Dube, as a Star of Zimbabwe.

Stars of Zimbabwe

Star of Zim: Moses Dube, a Man Fond of Working for the Community

11 February, 2019 |

While many people may demand payment for community service, that is not the case with a Bulawayo man who has worked so unselfishly and tirelessly with the Zimbabwe Development Democracy Trust (ZDDT) for over a decade now.

Stars of Zimbabwe

Star of Zim: MaTshabalala, a Rare Breed

22 June, 2018 |

“In life when you die you should leave behind a difference in your community, country or world; you must create a good difference, not a bad one,” these are the words of Patricia Tshabalala of Mpopoma.

Stars of Zimbabwe

Star of Zim - Bhila Inspired to Change Lives

26 February, 2018 |

After surviving the HIV virus in 2003, when her CD4 count had dropped to one, Senzeni Bhila resolved to do something for God and his people for the rest of her life.

ZDDT Appeal: Bulawayo Library in dire straits




bulawayo library

Mr Mendson Mpofu, the Bulawayo Public Library's chief fund raiser with library Secretary Mrs Letshani Ndlovu in the building's courtyard.


Established 5 September, 1896, the library moved into its present premises situated at the corner of Fort Street and Eighth Avenue on 31 March, 1898, from its former location at the Empire House on 6th Avenue and Main Street.

The Institution offers a wide range of services comprising a well stocked children’s library, Braille library, and study and reference areas. In addition, the main section houses a very comprehensive range of books covering a wide choice of subjects. There is also a division
that lends out audio and visual material in electronic form. A very popular feature at the library is the Internet Cafe which is predominantly utilised by students.

The Bulawayo Public Library has branches that cater for all age groups in several of the City’s high and low density suburbs. To augment these services, it runs a mobile service commonly known as The Book Bus, which covers areas within the City Limits where no libraries exist. In
addition a Historical Reference Collection is located at the City Hall under the clock, where materials in terms of the Legal Depository Act are housed.

The Library also has partnerships with several players in the information dissemination fraternity, such as international organisation, Book Aids and Education USA. The former gives books to needy libraries globally, while the latter is an establishment in the United States of America which provides scholarships for disadvantaged students to study at universities in that country. Assistance given by these well-wishers does not include financial aid.

As a means of maintaining these various services, the Institution has in the past, had to rely upon subsidies from well-wishers, chief of which is the City of Bulawayo, in order to swell the low fees it charges. The negative national economic situation that prevailed during the past decade has put paid to such assistance and therein lies the crux of the Library’s woes.

A source of income that the Bulawayo Public Library could rely on in the past was the complex of offices situated on the building’s upper floor that used to be leased out to business entities. These have since been condemned as a health hazard by the National Social Security Authority, the body that monitors health and safety conditions pertaining to infrastructural issues. Consequently no income is being accrued from that particular project.

Without the vital support it previously had in order to meet expenses, the Library is faced with the real possibility of having to withdraw the very essential services it provides to the public. It becomes very obvious that the worst affected in such a situation would be the underprivileged, who have over the years benefited from the Institution’s subsidised services.

Most saddening of all is the fact that the Institution’s complement of dedicated staff members has gone for months without proper remuneration due to lack of adequate funding flowing into the Library’s coffers. They remain only because they are driven by loyalty to the public who have relied on their committed service over the years.

Today there are precious few options for the Institution’s administration to recoup costs. One of these is the Library Hall which occasionally receives enquiries for lease by Businesses, institutions or members of the public. This facility is however, underutilised. The Library internet cafe which once enjoyed popular subscribership from the public is now a pale shadow of its former self; a result of mobile phone technology which now includes internet services.

The one other source of support that can be relied upon, though it remains sadly inadequate, is derived through subscriptions received from members of the public. Since the Library, which is a registered charitable organisation, provides its services in the form of a public assistance programme, it may not charge marketable fees, hence the practice of resorting to subsidies.

But staff at the Institution is not sitting idly by in the face of these seemingly insurmountable challenges. Plans are in the offing that will hopefully ensure continuance of services provided. Probably one that could prove most viable among these is the intention to do away with the troublesome internet cafe and establish a fully equipped modern research centre for the use of tertiary students. However, in order for this to become a reality essential funding will be needed.

Making an impassioned plea to well-wishers during a recent visit to the facility, Cllr. E. Manning of Ward One, in which the Library is situated said, “My urgent request to willing helpers is; please don’t let this vital institution die. The most affected of all, in such an eventuality, will be residents of Bulawayo, who would be poorer without the essential services offered by this world renowned Institution.” These are apt sentiments indeed.



You can assist in the noble effort of restoring the Bulawayo Public Library by using the following contact details:

The Chief Librarian, The Bulawayo Public Library, P. O. Box 586, Corner Eighth Avenue and Fort Street, (100 Fort Street), Bulawayo. Zimbabwe.

Telephone: +263 9 60966, Fax: +263 9 60965. Email; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Alternatively you may contact the Editor at Email:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

 
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