Online Reporter
Sunday News Reporter
THE church will always continue complementing Government’s efforts in providing quality education grounded in moral values that shapes character, instil discipline, respect and a sense of community which are critical in resisting the allure of drug and substance abuse threatening the future of the country’s young people.
The call was made by the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe’s Presiding Bishop George Mawire at the occasion to bid farewell to the long-serving headmaster of the church-run Pakame High School, Mr Aaron Kasirori after 37 years of unwavering dedication to the school.
“As we bid farewell to Mr Kasirori, an educator whose influence has shaped generations and whose leadership has become woven into the very identity of the institution, let me point out that, education is not merely about academics, it is a holistic approach that shapes character. In our schools, we strive to instil discipline, respect and a sense of community, which are critical in resisting the lure of substances that promise escape but deliver destruction to our youths,” said Mr Mawire.
He thanked Mr Kasirori for serving the school with dedication saying his retirement from the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe run institution is going to be felt as he was one of the long serving headmasters whose institutional memory was very vital.
Mr Kasirori first arrived at Pakame High School as a young and energetic teacher, armed with chalk, conviction and a belief that education could transform lives in 1981 as a student teacher.
Over the years, he rose steadily through the ranks, from a Building Studies teacher becoming acting deputy head, deputy head and eventually the school head in 2005 — a role he held with humility, firmness and a deep conviction of shaping not only lives but the country’s communities. In between, he had six year stint at Leopold Takawira High School from 1998 to 2004.
Students and staff remember him not only for his administrative excellence but for his unmistakable presence and the gentle but powerful speeches that reminded learners of discipline, integrity and purpose.
Under his leadership, Pakame High School strengthened its academic performance from a low pass rate to above 90 percent, expanded its facilities and emboldened its name as one of the schools that has deepened its spiritual ethos. Many alumni attribute their success to the values he tirelessly instilled.
During his final address at the farewell ceremony, Mr Kasirori spoke with the same calm sincerity that had guided the school for decades. He thanked the church leadership for trusting him, paid tribute to the teachers who stood beside him through challenges and triumphs and encouraged students to remain “lights set on a hill—shining with knowledge, character and faith.”
He walked the gathering through his path from the time he joined the school as a student teacher soon after independence.
“At one time after copper cables supplying electricity were stolen, I mobilised teachers and with axes in hands, we went and cleared a thicket from the other side close to the school so that we get connected and since then, we never had challenges with electricity. But we had to remove our jackets and ties and be bitten by wasps as we cleared the bushes,” he said.
The ceremony was filled with emotion as teachers and former learners shared testimonies of how his guidance redirected their lives.
“He taught us to believe in ourselves. He taught discipline and taught how to work with minimum to no supervision. He brought up teachers who became headmasters, a lot of them because he taught leadership and self belief. We hope the church will bring us someone like him, ” said a teacher who spoke on behalf of staff.
Though Mr Kasirori steps down from the head’s office, his footsteps will continue to echo in Pakame’s corridors while the policies he shaped and the spirit of excellence he championed all remain as visible reminders of his stewardship.
The Presiding Bishop Mr Mawire said for the Pakame family, Mr Kasirori will always be more than a former head.
“He is a mentor, a pillar of faith and an enduring part of the school’s history. We will always consult you if the need arises and please be ready to give us ideas when we need them,” he said.
He added that as Pakame High School closes this chapter with gratitude, celebrating a man who led with passion, wisdom and an unshakeable commitment to nurturing young minds, the church expects excellent results to continue.
Bongani Ndlovu