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I am planing on doing thread on Solusi University Campus. Brief: the low level workers stay at the western side called eMadumbeni (an informal settlement like set up). The management, executives and pastors stay in the eastern view low density like suburb set up.
Solusi University
Thread/Umxeba/Uhali
(1/13) Solusi university
Adventist run private institution of higher learning located 50km west of the Bulawayo center. The campus is of around 5 square kms.
Thread/Umxeba/Uhali
(1/13) Solusi university
Adventist run private institution of higher learning located 50km west of the Bulawayo center. The campus is of around 5 square kms.
(1b/13) Surrounded by rural communal peripheral dwellers, Solusi is a symbol of hope to many of these villagers. But as a religious institution, I found a lot of contradictory practices.
(2/13) Corporate structure
The University is run on a corporate like structure setup. Employing a lot of unskilled to semiskilled villagers from the surrounding areas to provide support for the day to day running of the institution.
The University is run on a corporate like structure setup. Employing a lot of unskilled to semiskilled villagers from the surrounding areas to provide support for the day to day running of the institution.
(2b/13) Most of the employees, reside inside the university campus.
(3/13) Residential set up
The senior execs, management, lectures, pastors reside in the eastern side of the campus. A low-density suburb like set up. Where’s the junior employees (laborers drawn from the surrounding villages and some migrant workers)
The senior execs, management, lectures, pastors reside in the eastern side of the campus. A low-density suburb like set up. Where’s the junior employees (laborers drawn from the surrounding villages and some migrant workers)
(3b/13) reside in an informal settlement called eMadumbeni (temporary structure/s during a migration or resettlement process).
(4/13) EMadumbeni
This area is located at the far western end of the campus – hidden by gigantic gumtrees, out of site for the highly esteemed visitors who frequent the institution on a regular basis.
This area is located at the far western end of the campus – hidden by gigantic gumtrees, out of site for the highly esteemed visitors who frequent the institution on a regular basis.
(4b/13) If I remember correctly the houses have no running water but there a community taps outside. Has very unreliable to no electricity connection – most inhabitants use fire wood for cooking.
(5/13) These are the man and women who pipe the water provisions and connect the electricity supplies for the whole community but their basic supplies are undependable.
(6/13) Religion
Solusi is a Seventh Day Adventist institution. There is a huge SDA temple constructed right in the middle of the campus. All residential zones, are adjacent to the main temple.
Solusi is a Seventh Day Adventist institution. There is a huge SDA temple constructed right in the middle of the campus. All residential zones, are adjacent to the main temple.
(6b/13) Up until the early 2000s, all residents attended service at this church. However, a decision was then made to divide the campus into cells. eMadumbeni is about 2km from the main church but also, ...
(6c/13) ...they found themselves cut from “the rest of the world” and were licensed to run their own church. However, next to eMadumbeni, there is a primary school. The school teachers reside at the staff quarters. Them – they attend church at the main church.
(7/13) Come to think of it, the Emadumbeni residents are low level individuals – out casts of the esteemed campus. I am informed that when remitting salaries and wages, the employer automatically deducts 10% of the workers’ pay as tithe contributions managed by the central church
(8/13) Creche
There is a creche at the campus. I have always wondered reasons for its existence because only a few – a select few children attend the creche.
There is a creche at the campus. I have always wondered reasons for its existence because only a few – a select few children attend the creche.
(9/13) Primary school
Up until the early 2000s, the children from the surrounding villages were attending school at the Solusi Primary School. However, with time, other villages started setting up their own primary schools, with the blessings of Solusi.
Up until the early 2000s, the children from the surrounding villages were attending school at the Solusi Primary School. However, with time, other villages started setting up their own primary schools, with the blessings of Solusi.
(9b/13) I, attended my primary school at Solusi and was one of the school’s top achievers for the national grade 7 exams (Second best). My best teacher for the seven-year course was my grade 7 teacher – Mr R. Satamwe – a child of migrant peasant workers like us.
(10/13) We used to walk about 15km to school on a daily basis. Being children of peasant farmers, we were a misfit – maybe an embarrassment to the institution. I remember one day, one employee of the university calling us: “Bantwana bezidakwa” (children of drunkards).
(11/13) Will I ever forget the day we were sent with my friend to deliver a message to one of the locals. We were let in, and straight we went and set on leather couches. The guy came and gave us a serous talk.
(11b/13)...“Bafanabami, ngitsho abantwabami kabahlali emasofeni lawa, lina lifika lifaka izibunu zenu ezilezihlama lapha” (ask a friend to translate)
(12/13) Poverty and hunger were written all over us. At times we would go the university cafeteria after school to ask for food left overs and be told there is no food, but on a daily basis rubbish bins were over flowing with the leftover food. I agree were a nuisance:
(12b/13) If it was not going through knocking door
to door at the university’s student dormitories asking for money, we were stealing mangoes (the campus is blessed with lots of mango trees). Please cut us some slake, we walked a total of 30kms per day mostly on empty stomachs.
to door at the university’s student dormitories asking for money, we were stealing mangoes (the campus is blessed with lots of mango trees). Please cut us some slake, we walked a total of 30kms per day mostly on empty stomachs.
(13/13) Clinic
I must say, the clinic has provided support to the local health needs for years. Currently, it is used to provide the government HIV treatment outreach programs. And lives have saved, death is now foreign and only comes naturally to these adjacent peasant farmers
I must say, the clinic has provided support to the local health needs for years. Currently, it is used to provide the government HIV treatment outreach programs. And lives have saved, death is now foreign and only comes naturally to these adjacent peasant farmers
@threadreaderapp unrolp
