Written by Chris Walker:
Greetings all…welcome to this week’s blog!
Some very good news! Recently, Pakati Primary school were the recipients of a government initiative, whereby they are trying to provide internet services to rural primary schools. The wi-fi was installed by government parastatal ZARNET/TELONE. Installation is done to schools who apply for the facility. Information & pictures are courtesy of Mr Chorichi of Pakati Primary school.
Also recently, I met with someone who has been a very keen supporter of Friends of Pakati. Yusef Alam was, until this week, a journalist working for my local newspaper the Bradford Telegraph & Argus (known locally as the T&A). Thanks to Yusef, we had a number of positive articles published in the paper, and we chatted for some time about how Friends of Pakati has benefitted from the exposure.
In the lead up to our fundraising event in 2022 – Get Tied Up For PAKATI – see https://friendsofpakati.com/get-tied-up-for-pakati-3/ the paper promoted our cause, leading to us getting over £1100 donated. Yusef also published articles about our trip to hand over goods donated in September/October 2022 here: https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/20716095.chris-walker-friends-pakati-return-zimbabwe/
This post is therefore to say a big ‘Thank You’ to Yusef for all his help, and wish him success in his new role as a TV researcher.
Delving into Debbie Chadbon’s photos – see https://friendsofpakati.com/2023/04/10/debbies-photos/ – has brought back several memories for me. I have recently posted some on our instagram account (@friendsofpakati), but let me include some more on here:
Taken from Gwangwadza hill, where there are some rack paintings dating back at least 1500 years, Pakati schools are barely visible in the distance in the picture above. Below are pictures of the hill & some of the rock paintings. It is a place I visited often myself.
Debbie took many photos of life at Pakati, which took me back to my own time there, but a couple I posted on Instagram reminded me of the small scale development project I was involved in back in 1990 & 91…only the borehole still survives sadly.
This is the only photo I have seen of the water tank we put up, long since dismantled.
Very common in the area, but not popular among residents around Pakati!
More to follow in the next blog!
