ZIOU, NAHOURI — On Monday, July 15, 2024, the populations of five villages within the Toungou grouping in the commune of Ziou undertook the construction of a 75-meter crossing within their village to improve local infrastructure and safety.
According to Burkina Information Agency, head of the Village Development Committee (CVD), the need for the crossing arose due to the lowland area that splits the village in two following rainfall, frequently causing accidents and water damage to the belongings of residents and their livestock. The situation poses a significant risk, particularly to students of a nearby primary school located less than 200 meters from the hazardous area, necessitating urgent action.
The construction involved local resources and manpower, with villagers employing carts, tricycles, tractors, picks, shovels, and crowbars to gather necessary materials. Masons from the village contributed their skills to the project, supported by the encouraging chants of local women.
The initiative received a warm reception from the customary chief of Toungou, who, along with other notables from the participating villages, attended the site to bless and motivate the community. He praised the community’s self-driven efforts, highlighting them as a testament to their recognition of self-sufficiency in addressing local development challenges.
Emphasizing the limits of state assistance in every aspect of community development, the traditional leader concluded with a call to the villagers to stay engaged until the crossing infrastructure is fully rehabilitated, underscoring the importance of sustained local involvement in communal projects.