brothers

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Brothers from Limpopo team up to successfully fight unemployment

The brothers wake up every morning and ascend the local mountains to dig for precious stones that are used for paving, building houses and walls.

brothers

Image supplied

Why struggle by looking for a job while you can create one for yourself? This is a simple question from Tshidivhano Mulondo, one of the four Mulondo brothers of Tswera village, near Thohoyandou in Limpopo, who have teamed up to successfully fight the scourge of unemployment.

The brothers wake up every morning and ascend the local mountain to dig for precious stones that are used for paving, building houses and walls.

The brothers Mulondo

Tshidivhano said the brothers started with their initiative ten years ago.

“We struggled to get jobs and we needed money but we didn’t want to engage ourselves in criminal activities. We then realised that our local mountain is reach with the precious stones and we grasped the opportunity with both hands. Despite the fact that we don’t have modern equipment, we used shovels, spades, hammers and chisels to get the stones from the earth.”

He says after getting the stones from the earth, the brothers chisel them accordingly to take an attractive form.

“We take them raw from the earth and work hard to transform them. One needs excellent skills to make the stones attractive. Although it takes longer because of the lack of modern equipment, we never give up because this is where our daily bread comes from.”

Hard work

However, Tshidivhano warns that it is not easy to work with stones.

“One has to be physically fit to do this job. Stones are very heavy and you must have the power and courage to continue working. After unearthing and giving them the attractive form, we physically carry them from the mountain to display them on the roadside to attract customers. We don’t have protective clothing and we often injure ourselves in the line of duty. This does not deter us from working because the stones are our only source of income.”

He says sometimes the business becomes slow, especially during rainy seasons.

“Most people do not undertake building projects when it rains and this has a negative impact in our business. Despite all the challenges, we keep on working hard to provide our families.”

Moses Mulondo is one of the brothers who works in the initiative.

“The job is hard but it brings something to our pockets. We plead to good Samaritans to assist us with modern equipment and protective clothing so that we can work with ease.”

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