Simonga Village

 

Population: 3,000 people live and farm in Simonga Village and the surrounding area.

Village Structure: Simonga, and neighbouring villages, come under the control of Chief Sekute who resides in his Palace about 60 kms away. Chief Sekute (who has royal blood) and his Ndunas (court) reports directly to the Litunga. A Headlady, Inonge, oversees day-to-day life in Simonga Village. She won the title of “Miss Livingstone” in 1961 and was appointed by Chief Sekute in 1972 to the position of ‘Headman’ – an unusual role for a woman.

Facilities: Simonga Basic School, built in 1976, has over 300 students and 8 teachers. There is no clinic in Simonga, the nearest is 17kms away in Livingstone, but the village does have a traditional healer.  Three wells have been dug and there is a borehole and pump built by Zambian Railways, which is currently undergoing reconstruction.

The projects in Simonga Village focus particularly on women and children; improving their quality of life and therefore uplifting the village as a whole all work is carried out with the approval and support of the Head lady and the villagers.

Current projects in Simonga Village

1.   Water – A new irrigation system to provide 50,000 litres of running water per day for the village. Repairs and maintenance on existing boreholes and three seasonal wells.

2.   Education – Scholarship for students to go to High School in Livingstone town. Donations of books to create a library at Simonga Basic School. Supplying the Basic School with stationary, art and craft equipment and textbooks. Maintenance of the school furnishings and buildings. Providing sports equipment and kits. Building a school canteen and kitchen. Organizing art competitions with prize givings and educational visits.

3.   Health – Arranging talks by health visitors.  Purchasing and distributing wheel chairs. Long-term plans for the construction of health post. Links with the general hospital in Livingstone.

4.   Community – Assisting with the construction of a Palace for the Chief. Community football matches. Supporting those who care for orphans. Liaison between the village and other organizations such as the World Food Programme. Supporting law and order by fundraising for the creation of a community police post in the Simonga.

5.   Environmental - Organizing litter pick ups and rubbish removal in the village and in the National Park.