Lambani community requests roads and clean water during Thulamela Mayoral Imbizo
By Silas Nduvheni
Hundreds of villagers converged at Tshihothi Sportsground in Ha Lambani in Ward 6 to participate in the Thulamela Local Municipality Mayoral Imbizo, on Friday, 13 March 2026, to request for better service delivery.
Coomunity members who spoke during the Imbizo under Mphaphuli Tribal Council, revealed that their rural communities were desperately lacking the provision of services such as roads infrastructure and clean water.
Despite the heavy rain , some rural communities from Ha Lambani and surrounding villages, led by acting Traditional Leader, Vhamusanda Vho Tshidino Lambani, braved, the chilly weather and converged at the Imbizo.
“As the village of Ha Lambani is situated in the dip rural areas, it seems to us that, we are forgotten by Thulamela Local Municipality and this is because, our villages are even not included in the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) programme of the municipality. The road leading to the local clinic, from the t-junction of Gunda to Ha Lambani village need paving or to be tarred, during rainy times like this, is slippery and the places are regarded as no-go areas,” said the community leader in Ha Lambani village, Ndivhuwo Makhuvha,
Makhuvha told Thulamela Mayor, Athongozwidivha Sarah Rambuda, her entourage which includes some councilors, who attended the Lambani mayoral imbizo, that upgrading their roads will assist in the mobility needs of Ha Lambani village , thereby connecting it with other communities near Kruger National Park on the Punda Maria gate, clinics, schools and other resource areas.
‘Upgarding our road infrastructure, will also help to create job opportunities for the local people in a poverty stricken community like this one in Nzanwe. We also understand that, in our nearby community of, water shortages is affecting our people, as without clean water from the taps, our communities are suffering,” added Makhuvha
He further said that, crime such as house breaking, and rape are rife in villages under Ward 6 and they urged the municipality to erect Apolo lights, which will help to reduce crime.
Ward 6 Councilor in Thulamela Municipality, Rendani Lalumbe said ward 6 has several villages such as Nzanwe, Mahangala, Lukalo and others.
Prior the Mayor Cllr Rambuda address at Tshihothi sports ground, her entourage first visited the family of disabled Mmboniseni Mulovhedzi (48) in Nzanwe village, where they promised to re- build RDP house for him.
Disabled Mulovhedzi said, he received an RDP house in the year, 2000, however, a year later, during heavy winds, his RDP house’s roofing was blown away, leaving his family forced to share two separate mud-huts, which may fall at any time, due to ongoing heavy rain. Thulamela Municipality also donated food parcels and blankets during the visit Mulovhedzi’s familty.
In her summation, the Mayor of Thulamela, Cllr Rambuda said one of the aim of the imbizo, was to listen to the communities, informing the councilors about the challenges the communty is facing in delivery of services such as roads, electricity and water.
Rambuda said: “We can’t stand on the sidelines, when rural communities such as Ha Lambani, Nzanwe, Tshamulavhu and others are not getting better services. I promise to fastreack delivering services to the affected communities, adding the municipality was allocated over R19 million for rebuilding roads and infrastructure damaged during the ongoing heavy rains in many parts of the municipality and we have about six months to complete with the work.”
