Zibambele

An initiative of the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport

The creation of sustainable job opportunities for poor rural families through the maintenance of rural roads.

The ZIBAMBELE Road Maintenance Contract System is a poverty alleviation programme initiated by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport. This innovative programme which was adapted from the Kenyan Lengthman model, contracts a household rather than an individual to maintain a length of road. ZIBAMBELE contracts stabilize destitute families to break their poverty cycle.

The Zulu name given to the "Lengthman" Contract System is ZIBAMBELE, which means "doing it for ourselves'. The name, ZIBAMBELE, captures its unique adaptation to meet the social condition prevailing in rural KwaZulu-Natal.

Zibambele is a community driven programme contributing to social security and peace.

What is Zibambele?

ZIBAMBELE is a routine road maintenance programme using labour intensive methods. It encourages flexible hours on road maintenance activities to allow ZIBAMBELE households adequate time to deploy their labour on other activities.

A ZIBAMBELE Contractor is the term used for a person contracted under the ZIBAMBELE programme to maintain a length of road. The length of road allocated to each household depends on the difficulty on the terrain, thus the more difficult the terrain the shorter the allocated road. The contract requires a maximum of 60 hours of work per month to maintain the length of allocated road.

A ZIBAMBELE household will:

• Maintain the road drainage system
• Ensure good roadside visibility
• Maintain the road surface in good condition
• Clear the road verges of litter and noxious weeds

How the ZIBAMBELE System Works

• Instead of appointing an individual, KZN DoT appoints a household.

• This ensures that the household does not rely on the person for continuity of the contract.

• The contract is awarded for twelve months and will be renewed annually to last as long as the road is of value to the community.

• Contact targets the poorest of the poor who are identified and selected by communities themselves.

• New sustainable work opportunities  are created at the lowest level of the market place.

• Women-headed households are targeted because they make up the majority of the poorest families.

• Training includes technical skills on the correct way to maintain roads as well as a social development and life skills component.

• Support services to ZIBAMBELE households include assisting them to obtain identity documents, open bank accounts, organise themselves collectively into credit unions and assisting people to invest savings in other productive activities.

During the 2000/2001 financial year 6 031 contracts were awarded. During 2001/2002 these were increased to 10 000 contracts.  Today more than 17 000 Zibambele contractors maintain approximately 11 000 (eleven thousand) kilometers of rural road on an annual basis.

"When one evaluated the ZIBAMBELE contract system against other programmes in which welfare transfers are made from government to the very poor, ZIBAMBELE stands out because it creates meaningful work and enhances human dignity which is associated with being gainfully employed. ZIBAMBELE creates a sense of community ownership and partnership with government in the maintenance of public assets. ZIBAMBELE is a wonderful example of how a programme designed to alleviate poverty can indeed be gender affirmative, employ the most needy and still be successful." - Dr. KB Mbanjwa, former Head of Department KZN Department of Transport

The selection process brings people together where they can talk about their own and their community's poverty, listen to and advise each other, empathize and work together to ensure that the family selected is the most deserving.

The selection process is a traumatic experience for all involved as there are always many more needy families than there are ZIBAMBELE work opportunities. For instance one woman not selected, because she was slightly better off, publicly lamented the fact that her son had recently hanged himself because he could no longer live with hunger. This is by no means an isolated example.

Zibambele workers clearing road verges of noxious weeds

A contract is awarded with equipment, which includes a wheelbarrow, a pick or a hoe, a shovel, a machete and a slasher or a sickle. There is also safety equipment that must be used by contractors at all times whilst working so that they are visible to road users viz. safety vest and plastic cones.

The ZIBAMBELE selection process is creating a new king of democracy. More and more communities, including traditional leaders, realize that they are being empowered through ZIBAMBELE.

ZIBAMBELE has brought hope to families who look forward to joining savings clubs and becoming more economically viable. In almost all instances, this will be the first time that these families are able to save money.

A Zibambele contractor compacts gravel using a hand-rammer.

Zibambele has put to work people who would normally be left out of any opportunity because of their poverty. In the process the long term prospects of the family are enhanced through improved access to schooling, nutrition, training and credit." - Minister S’bu Ndebele at the launch of ZIBAMBELE, January 2000

"In 1999 the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport piloted the ZIBAMBELE System by awarding 2 700 contracts as part of its Road to Wealth and Job Creation initiative. The Road to Wealth and Job Creation initiative was presented at the Jobs Summit in October 1998. The initiative highlights the important role that road infrastructure plays in placing the rural economy on a growth path that absorbs labour.

Road construction projects and maintenance programmes can be designed to create work opportunities from the most unemployable to the most professional. ZIBAMBELE has been implemented in KwaZulu-Natal to provide work opportunities for the ultra poor.

The selection process of ZIBAMBELE unmasks hidden levels of grinding poverty that are truly shocking. We in KwaZulu-Natal are reminded once again of the terrible legacy inherited from apartheid and from decades of civil conflict, which has widowed thousands upon thousands of women leaving them destitute.

I appeal to the donor community and the public to support ZIBAMBELE and help government to create real opportunities for poor families. We have a target of 40 000 ZIBAMBELE contracts which can only be achieved with your assistance.” Mr J S Ndebele, Premier of KwaZulu-Natal (2004-) and former MEC for Transport (1994-2004).
 

For More Information Contact KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport 172 Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg, 3201 Private Bag X9043, Pietermaritzburg, 3200 Republic of South Africa

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