The remote community of Tshiheni had the opportunity to voice their concerns and express their needs during a mayoral imbizo held at the Tshiheni Sports Grounds on Monday.
The imbizo, held in Thulamela's Ward 28, sparked a lively debate, with residents eager to share their opinions. The area, located near the sacred Lake Fundudzi, struggles with poor infrastructure, including deteriorating roads and a lack of potable water.
"It feels as if the Thulamela Municipality has forgotten us," said local community leader Mr Thifhelimbilu Tshiswaise. He pointed out that Tshiheni village is not even mentioned in the municipality's Integrated Development Plan (IDP). "When we needed electricity in this village, every household had to pay the required amount for installation. We also contributed to buy cement and sand, so that villagers could attempt to rebuild the roads themselves," he said.
Tshiswaise urged Thulamela Mayor Athongozwidivha Rambuda and her delegation to prioritise upgrading the roads, which would help connect residents to other communities, markets, hospitals, clinics, and essential services. "Improving our road infrastructure will also create job opportunities for local people," he added.
He noted that Tshiheni is not the only village affected by poor service delivery. "In our neighbouring community of Thononda, severe water shortages are making life difficult. Without clean running water, our communities will continue to suffer," he said. He also called on the municipality to install high-mast lights to deter criminal activity at night.
Thulamela's Ward 28 encompasses several villages, including Tshisinisa, Tshiavha, Tshithuthuni, Thononda, and Mudunungu.
Before attending the imbizo at Tshiheni, Mayor Rambuda and her delegation had visited Luaname, the capital of the Tshivhase Dynasty. They also paid a courtesy visit to the family of Johannes Malidzhi in Milaboni village, where they pledged to build an RDP house for him and his family. Malidzhi, who is disabled, lives in a dilapidated shack with six family members. The municipality also provided them with a food parcel and blankets.
Addressing the residents at Tshiheni Stadium, Mayor Rambuda emphasised that the purpose of the imbizo was to listen to communities' concerns. She urged residents to highlight their challenges regarding service delivery, including roads, electricity, and water.
"We cannot stand on the sidelines while rural communities such as Tshiheni, Thononda, and Tshiavha continue to suffer from inadequate services," she said. "I promise to fast-track the delivery of services to the affected communities."
During the imbizo, an official from the Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure announced that plans were underway to rehabilitate several streets and roads in Thononda and Tshiheni.