Illiterate man helps district

AN illiterate man in the Kerowagi district, Simbu province, spent his life time savings of K50,000 to bring vital services to his people at Gonbo village.
Kauga Binde constructed water supply, built permanent elementary school, a permanent building for an aid post, a church building for the Evangelical Brotherhood church (EBC) and a piggery project and supply piglets free of charge to the local communities.
The projects they initiated benefited more than 1,500 people from the Hurumalkane, Kangumakane, Dimbor, Borokamgl and Bengom clans.
In an interview with Mr Binde, who claimed to be in his 60s at his Gonbo village last Thursday prior to the official opening of his projects by local MP Guma Wau, he said, the projects came out from his own pocket money and is not for him to contest for a ward councillor, become a village court magistrate or personal glory.
He said these were things which he planned to do when he was young because he wanted to see some changes within in his community.
Mr Binde, who was a great warrior but now repent and become a member of the EBC said first he constructed a 3km water supply in 1986 at the cost of K5,000.
 He said he constructed the water supply after seeing that many small children had scabies, children and mothers walked long distance to fetch water and many people in his community down with typhoid and other water borne diseases.
He said at that time, he bought fish fingerlings from primary industry officers in the province and supply them to the people.
People dug 240 ponds and look after the fish in the village.
He said when he was planning to initiate other projects, a tribal fight involving his Endugla tribesmen and other neighbouring tribe erupted.
The fight has been going on and off for sometime.
Mr Binde said since his village was in the middle, it did not affect the water supply.
He said mid last year, he built an elementary school, aid post, a church building and started a piggery project.
Mr Binde, a soft spoken man said he never ask for contribution from his clansmen, councillor or even the local MP.
Kerowagi MP Guma Wau, who was invited to open the projects, commended Mr Binde and described him as a very unique person.
Mr Wau committed K100,000 to the Gonbo community to use and further develop the school, aid post and extend the water supply project.
 He also committed K50,000 for road upgrading from Duramugl bridge to Gonbo then to Biivol Primary School.