Macdonald Chimbizi
A BRITISH millionaire businessman has helped transform a rural school, which his Zimbabwean wife’s father attended, and Nyamutora Primary School’s transformation is quite eye-catching.
From dilapidated classrooms to a modern learning centre with computers and clean water, the school in Hurungwe has been reborn.
Samuel Leeds, a businessman with an estimated net worth of £28 million, has been a key figure in the transformation.
His Zimbabwean wife, Amanda, has a strong attachment to the school because this is where her late father did his primary school studies.
Amanda grew up in Harare but later moved to live in the UK where she met Samuel at a wedding in the West Midlands.
The couple married nine months later and they have been blessed with four children.
They formed the Samuel Leeds Foundation together.
The school was officially handed over at a ceremony presided over by Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West, Marian Chombo.
Samuel, and a delegation from the Samuel Leeds Foundation, attended the occasion.
Amanda’s Nxele family initiated the rehabilitation in 2024, successfully completing Phase 1 which involved the rehabilitation of teachers’ houses.
Phase 2 focussed on renovation of classroom blocks before their partnership with the Samuel Leeds Foundation.
Through generous funding from Samuel and his wife Amanda, through the Leeds Foundation, the project managed to renovate all classroom blocks, fence the entire school premises, sink a borehole which is now serving the whole community, build new ablution facilities and construct a brand new Computer/Classroom Block.
The family also extended appreciation to Econet Zimbabwe for funding the roofing of one of the classroom blocks, a sponsorship that was facilitated by Musawenkosi Ndoro.
Chombo commended the partnership between the Nxele family, the private sector and international philanthropy, saying such initiatives complement Government efforts to improve education infrastructure in rural areas in line with Vision 2030.
The Zimbabwe handover was part of a double milestone for the Foundation, which also opened a new education block in Uganda to support rural learners with access to computers, technology and financial education programmes.
In a post on his Facebook page, Samuel said: “I’ve always believed that success means very little if you’re not using it to give back and help those less fortunate.
“That’s exactly why I set up the Samuel Leeds Foundation all those years ago. Seeing the difference we’re making in these communities is something truly special, and this is only the beginning.”
The rehabilitation is expected to significantly improve the learning environment, boost enrolment and enhance community access to clean water.
