Spotlight on Basilwizi
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- Created: Sunday, 14 January 2007 17:02
Basilwizi is a non-profit advocacy and community development organisation operating in the Zambezi River Valley, in the remote northern regions of Zimbabwe. The organisation works for the social and economic empowerment of the Tonga and Korekore communities living in the four districts of Hwange, Binga, Gokwe North and Nyaminyami.
Basilwizi was founded in 2002 by the Tonga and Korekore people themselves, in order to address the vast social and economic problems facing their communities. The Tonga and Korekore rank amongst the most vulnerable population groups in Zimbabwe - suffering from chronic poverty, political marginalisation, and socio-economic underdevelopment, that stem as far back as the 1950s, when these communities were forcibly evicted to make way for the Kariba Dam and Lake Kariba.
The name is a combination of two Tonga words - “Ba” or “Bantu” meaning people, and “lwizi” meaning a great expanse of water.
The term “Basilwizi” was coined by the Tonga people of Zimbabwe to describe themselves, and their great loss, after they were forcibly relocated from the Zambezi River Valley to make way for the Kariba Dam.
Thus, the term reflects the way that the Tonga perceive themselves today – as those people who originally came from, or used to live by the Zambezi River.
The Basilwizi website is providing a host of information on the history of the Tonga, their forced relocation., living conditions today and advocacy programmes.
read more: http://www.basilwizi.org.zw
contact: Basilwizi
14 Edward Road, PO Box 3720
Kumalo, Bulawayo, ZimbabweTel : +263 (09) 230 351/2 - Fax : +253 (09) 230 353
Email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.