Construction yet to start at new Globe & Phoenix Primary site

GLOBE and Phoenix Primary learners will continue conducting lessons at Russell Primary School grounds after the envisaged reconstruction of the facility at the new school site failed to take off.

The learners and their teachers have been camped at Russell Primary School grounds where they were learning under tents. They were forced to abandon their school when classrooms gave in to an underground tunnel due to illegal mining activities that were taking place at the school.

After they were given land to construct a new school by Kuvimba Mining Holdings, who took over Globe and Phoenix Mine, authorities had targeted to start construction works and possibly move to the new site by the beginning of the first term.

The initial plan was to construct stronger temporary structures and ablution facilities before the relocation of the more than 1 300 learners.

Acting Kwekwe District Civil Protection Unit chairperson, Mr Reason Machina said things did not go as planned due to a shortage of resources.

“We are very much aware that the situation is not conducive at Russell Campsite as the tents were being blown off by the strong winds. We are grateful to the Red Cross who gave us stronger tents that we are going to be using,” he said.

“The ones that we received from the CPU were being easily blown off by the winds but we managed to replace them with stronger ones.”

Mr Machina said the seven tents will be used by Grade 6 and 7 classes while the rest of the learners will be sharing classes with Russell Primary learners on a hot sitting basis.

“We are grateful to Russell Primary authorities for allowing us to use their classrooms on a hot sitting arrangement. So, the Grade 6 and 7 classes are the ones who are using the tents while the rest use the classrooms,” he said.

Mr Machina said there was a need for a permanent solution to relieve pressure from the Russell Primary School.

“We need to start construction at the new site so that we can move the learners there and ease pressure from the Russell Primary School. We, therefore, call upon those who made pledges to come forward so that we can start construction works on the new site,” he said.

Authorities launched a fundraising initiative targeting raising US$200 000 for the construction of a new state-of-the-art school.

Mr Machina said Kwekwe City Council has of late been struggling to supply water to the city, posing a health hazard.

“Kwekwe has been facing challenges to supply water due to constant power cuts and turbidity and this poses a major health risk in the wake of a cholera outbreak. So, we need to move fast and ensure that we decongest the learners,” he said.

Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony of the new site and encouraged authorities to expedite the construction of the new school to enable learners a safe and conducive learning environment.