adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
Beitbridge West parliamentarian Cde Ruth Maboyi has appealed to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing to avail resources to rehabilitate seven schools in the district which were destroyed by hailstorms since the start of the rainy season.
She said state of affairs in the area was dire and that though communities were pooling resources to rebuild the schools, they were not enough.
In a recent interview during a visit to Chamnangana Primary School, some 120km west of the border town, Cde Maboyi said the damage had exacerbated the shortage of learning institutions in the area.
She said currently some pupils were learning outside or practising hot seating due to the shortage of classrooms.
The Herald understands that on average the seven schools need at least $50 000 to refurbish the buildings, furniture and to procure teaching materials including text books.
“We have a big challenge in terms of rehabilitating the damaged schools. The level of destruction is beyond our capacity as a district.
“Though we have local authorities coming in, the resources at hand are not enough. We appeal to Government, businesses and non-governmental organisations to pool resources.
“There is a lot that needs to be done and it is important that we put whatever we have together and solve the problems at these learning institutions.”
She said the majority of the schools had their rooftops blown off while others had partial structural damages.
She added that it was also important for communities to partner with development agencies to improve access to learning institutions.
“Further, we have children walking for longer distances to access schools because of the shortages of such facilities.
“I challenge communities to partner with other progressive minds in building more of the institutions closer to the people. Education is the foundation for future success and hence investment in that area should be a priority for us,” said Cde Maboyi.
According to a report by the local Civil Protection Unit, a total of seven schools, one clinic and over 100 homesteads were destroyed by strong storms since the start of the rainy season as the effects of climate change intensify in the country southern district.
Further, the extreme weather changes has affected the 2018-19 cropping season with crops reportedly wilting due to moisture stress whole other have failed germinate.
Online Reporter