Mangwe school wins Potraz competition

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
ALAN Redfern Primary School in Mangwe District has won the Matabeleland South provincial Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) young people’s letter writing competition.

The young pupils had been tasked to write a letter to their 45-year-old self which was the theme of the competition.

Mangwe District Early Childhood Development Learning supervisor, Sithembile Ngwenya said pupils were supposed to display critical imaginative skills adding that the topic also required them to analyse daily changes in their lives and project the future thereby sharpening their research, creativity and innovative skills.

Utoile Mavula, a Grade 7 pupil at the school wrote the best letter and shrugged off stiff competition from several other pupils from different schools across the province. Ndulamo Moyo, a Form 2 pupil at Empandeni High School in Mangwe District came second while Sikhanyisile Ndlovu a Grade 6 six pupil at Kungubo Primary School in Bulilima District came third.

For her efforts, Utoile walked away with $300 and a certificate while her school was awarded a stationery hamper valued at $300, a gold shield and a certificate of participation. She will go on and represent the Matabeleland South province in the national competition.

Ndulamo on the other hand walked away with $200 and a certificate while her school was awarded a stationery hamper worth $200, a silver shield and certificate of participation. Sikhanyisile received $100 and a certificate while her school was awarded a $100 worth stationery hamper, a bronze shield and certificate of participation.

Speaking at the award ceremony that was held at Alan Redfern Primary School in Plumtree, Ngwenya said essay writing was an important part of the school curriculum. She urged all schools to develop writing skills among their pupils.

“Essay writing is an important part of the curriculum as it promotes creativity and innovation. It also sharpens research skills among pupils as it requires use of the Internet.

“Pupils are also urged to take part in the essay writing competitions for their own benefit, the school and community as a whole. Parents should also take pride in their children participating,” said Ngwenya.

The letter writing competition, now in its 45th edition, is held every year to ensure schools produce literate pupils. Potraz partnered with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to sponsor these competitions.