By Dickson Bandera and Brenda Mazhambe, recently in Shurugwi
SHURUGWI — There was joy and celebration in Shurugwi on Tuesday as the Shurugwi community gathered to witness the commissioning of two life-changing community projects — the modernization of the town’s mortuary and the opening of a gold milling centre.
Both initiatives, aimed at transforming the lives of the people of Shurugwi, were funded and driven by Chengetai Investments, a local company fast earning recognition not just in business circles, but also in the hearts of the communities it serves.
As hundreds of residents thronged the venues, the atmosphere was filled with song, cheer, and a shared sense of progress. One message resonated clearly throughout the day — public-private partnerships work. When private players such as Chengetai Investments rise to the occasion, communities thrive.
Chengetai Investments is doing more than building infrastructure; it is restoring dignity, creating opportunities, and redefining corporate responsibility. From resurfacing rural roads to donating ICT equipment to schools, the company has made a deliberate shift toward people-centred investment that leaves lasting impact.
The commissioning of the nine-body mortuary marks a major milestone in addressing long-standing challenges within the district’s healthcare and justice systems. In the past, inadequate preservation facilities caused delays in identifying bodies and complicated medical and legal processes. Today, families can lay their loved ones to rest with dignity and respect — a testament to the transformative power of local investment.
A few kilometres away, the newly opened Shurugwi Community Empowerment Trust Gold Milling and Processing Centre stands as a beacon of hope and empowerment, especially for artisanal miners and youth groups venturing into the mining sector.
The facility is directly linked to the company’s broader initiative of aggregating mining claims for young miners being relocated from Hwandara.
In an economy where formal employment is increasingly scarce, such initiatives bring renewed hope, sustainable livelihoods, and tangible opportunities for community members.
Chengetai Investments’ efforts extend beyond infrastructure development. Through the establishment of the Shared Community Empowerment Trust, the company is promoting sustainable development by ensuring that local communities benefit directly from natural resources and local investments.
Other projects underscore its far-reaching commitment to community welfare. These include:
The construction of a hospital at Shurugwi Female Prison, improving healthcare access for both inmates and surrounding communities.
The donation of 60 tons of mealie-meal to support government drought-relief efforts.
Medical outreach programmes that deliver essential health services to underserved populations.
Education and youth empowerment have also been central to Chengetai Investments’ social impact agenda. The company has donated ICT equipment to schools across the district to help bridge the digital divide, while a US$3,500 contribution to poultry projects at Vubwi Primary School — alongside funding for the rehabilitation of sporting facilities — demonstrates its commitment to both economic and developmental growth.
Even civic and political development has not been overlooked, with the company funding the construction of the local ZANU-PF office, illustrating its readiness to contribute to all dimensions of community life.
What Chengetai Investments is doing in Shurugwi is more than philanthropy — it is strategic citizenship. The company recognizes that thriving businesses can only exist within thriving communities.
Its actions reflect an understanding that the private sector has a vital role to play in solving Zimbabwe’s most pressing social and economic challenges — from youth unemployment and decaying infrastructure to food insecurity and limited access to healthcare.
As one community leader remarked during the ceremony, “Chengetai Investments has become more than a company to us. It is a partner, a neighbour, and a friend.”
If the ongoing developments in Shurugwi are any indication, Chengetai Investments is setting a new benchmark for corporate responsibility in Zimbabwe — one where profit aligns with purpose, and sustainable development begins with genuine, on-the-ground investment in people.
