Basilwizi is a registered Zimbabwean NGO operating in the four Zambezi Valley districts Hwange, Binga, Gokwe North and Nyaminyami. Basilwizi has a cumulative operating experience of over ten (10) years. The formation of Basilwizi was to tackle the Kariba dam induced poverty among people who were displaced by the construction of the dam in 1958. Key program areas are: Education and culture support, Sustainable Livelihoods; Health and; Governance support. Basilwizi has the support of the four districts through current and valid Memorandums of Understanding.
Our Mandate
Basilwizi gets its mandate from the people of the Zambezi valley who, upon realization of perpetual marginalization and exclusion from major national processes, formed the organisation themselves in the year 2002. The main issues at the time of formation were to spear head lobby efforts to get all marginalized languages in Zimbabwe recognised by the state. Cultural promotion and preservation was also top on the agenda. To further these interests, Basilwizi chose to pursue education and cultural support as the flag ship of its programs. This was a deliberate option as it is believed that without education, a people cannot have any meaningful participation in national processes.
Our work
We work on four thematic areas which are:
- Education and cultural support
- Governance support
- Health
- Sustainable Livelihoods
In all our work, relevant government line ministries are our key partners. When dealing with issues of education, the ministry of education, sport, art and culture has been and continues to be our key partner. In sustainable livelihoods, the ministry of agriculture is key. In governance support, local government and home affairs have been our lead partners. It is Basilwizi’s belief that supporting and working with government line ministries and structures ensures legitimacy and sustainability of our efforts for years to come.
Our achievements to date
- Over the past nine years, Basilwizi has realized the following achievements:
- Amendment of the Education Act to allow the teaching of marginalized languages in schools (2002 and 2007)
- Printing and distribution of Tonga language primary course books and the subsequent teaching of the language in the four districts of Hwange, Binga, Gokwe and Kariba (2008)
- Successful sitting of examinations in Tonga language at grade 7 set by ZIMSEC (2011)
- Support to over 331 vulnerable children with school fees in the four districts over the past 6 years
- Successful introduction and support of ICTs use in 12 schools in Binga
- Contribution to a united and peaceful Zambezi valley over the past nine years (achieved through mobilization of people around issues of common interest as identified by the people and reflected in our strategic plan).
- Sustained health support along lines of culture and traditional support structures
- Sustained platform creation for the Zambezi valley communities to be part of ongoing national processes.
Basilwizi is an active member of the Church and civil society Forum of Zimbabwe (CCSF) spearheading peace building and violence prevention efforts in the country. We are also a member of NANGO and Zimbabwe AIDS Network in Zimbabwe (ZAN). On the international front, we are a member of International Rivers Network as well as National Advocacy on Water issues in Southern Africa (NAWISA).
Basilwizi is head quartered in Bulawayo and has two sub-offices in Kariba rural and Binga districts.