Story by ZBC Reporter
A non-profit organisation, Bridging the Gap Foundation, donated a total of 17 tractors to the Seventh Day Adventist Zimbabwe West Union Conference this Thursday, in a bid to empower communities and promote self-sufficiency.
The tractors will be distributed to schools across the Matabeleland region, an initiative meant to enable the schools to develop projects that enhance the quality of education and community life.
The foundation, a brainchild of business mogul Kudakwashe Tagwirei and his wife Sandra Tagwirei, is dedicated to empowering communities of faith, the education and health sectors, as well as determined individuals, with the aim of being a centre of hope especially for youths and rural communities.
After a handover ceremony held at the Union offices, five of the tractors were handed over to Gonye Adventist Primary School in Nkayi, Shashane Adventist High School in Kezi, Nemane Adventist High School in Tsholotsho, and Bulawayo Adventist High School.
Speaking at the ceremony, Bridging the Gap Foundation Executive Director, Dr Blessing Nyahuma, emphasised the organisation’s commitment to teaching communities how to “fish” rather than simply providing “fish”.
“This philosophy is reflected in the comprehensive nature of the donation, which includes not only tractors but also inputs, drivers, harrows, trailers, and boom sprays. The foundation has also pledged to cover maintenance costs until the schools are able to sustain themselves.
“We have realised that no matter how hard schools may try, they can never make enough profit from tuition alone to have sustainable development projects, hence this donation. We also realised that donations can sometimes end up being a burden, so this is a wholesome donation which comes with inputs and additional equipment like the harrows and trailers.
“We have also provided the drivers for the tractors as well as the maintenance of the tractors until the schools can handle the costs on their own after harvesting,” said Dr Nyahuma.
The goal of the initiative is to enable the schools to develop projects that tuition fees alone cannot support.
By promoting sustainable agriculture, Bridging the Gap Foundation aims to enhance the quality of education and community life.
Receiving the donation, the President of the Seventh Day Adventist Zimbabwe West Union Conference, Dr Khumbulani Ndlovu praised the foundation’s contribution, highlighting its potential to increase the quality of service offered by the schools, alleviate financial burdens on parents, and enrich the surrounding communities.
“We are very grateful for this donation which will go a long way in terms of increasing the quality of service offered by these schools.
“The extra income from agricultural proceeds will also help those parents who struggle to pay fees, something that has been happening a lot lately.
“Something else we are excited about is that this is also an opportunity to preach the gospel to the communities.
“These projects will benefit the communities as well, and when we preach love and kindness, they will be able to witness us practising it, meaning we will have more impact in these communities,” he said.
Zimbabwe West Union Conference projects manager Mr Ian Chiwhayi encouraged the schools to understand that agriculture is a business. He encouraged the schools to consider including cash crops like blueberries in their projects.
Bridging the Gap Foundation’s is also providing critical support to Solusi University, including paying the lecturer allowances and capacitating the university’s farm so that it can also generate income to implement other projects.
