Chronicle Editor
Uzile Mkwananzi, Sunday News Reporter
STRIDES continue to be made in the improvement of education infrastructure in Bulilima District in Matabeleland South Province through devolution funds as the Government and its partners have been working to make education accessible to all through reducing distances that learners walk to schools.
Progress has also been made in the provision of clean water in all schools with the help of the community and other organisations within the district in the face of diarrhoeal diseases. Speaking to Sunday News in an interview, Bulilima Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Billiat Mlauzi said devolution funds were bringing a difference in the education sector and in the general improvement of social services. He spoke of how eight schools are being worked on and are nearing completion.
“One of the schools that we have been working on Zompata Primary School enrolled its first learners in September 2023. The school was commissioned in July 2023 by the then Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu while construction and furnishing of another classroom block at Mafa Primary School was completed and opened to ECD learners for the third term. The former Education Minister, Dr Ndlovu assisted with the furniture and the community is working on constructing a staff cottage,” said Mr Mlauzi.
He added that several other schools in the district had water systems installed and were only awaiting commissioning so that they start running.
“At Tjemahale Secondary School through the help of the community, Hunter and IGTF, we managed to complete one classroom block and one staff cottage before the school started operating in January 2023.
“One borehole was drilled and fitted. A hunting operator donated a solar system for water pumping and a 5 000-litre tank while the community came together and constructed the tank stand,” he said.
Mr Mlauzi said the developments were made easier through community assistance and urged the communities to remain united in their pursuit of more developmental projects. Mr Mlauzi said a classroom block that was built at Goba Primary School was handed over to the SDA church to help improve it to better standards all for the benefit of the community.
Similarly, he noted, Huwana Secondary School had one classroom block built and completed and is in the community’s hands as it works on the building of the staff cottage. Mr Mlauzi also mentioned that Nlibwane, Ndiweni and Hungwa primary schools have been completed and were only left with a few touch-ups for them to be ready to take in learners.
The CEO said they have also put in place measures to make water available at schools so that there was safe drinking water and general sanitation systems.
“As council, through our District Water Supply and Sanitation Committee (DWSSC) we have tried to ensure that schools have access to water through drilling of boreholes, repairing and rehabilitation of boreholes and piped water schemes.
“Of course, the issue of access to water has not been adequately addressed with major challenges being reduced levels of the water table resulting in a number of dry holes being drilled in some of the areas within the district. It is quite vital to note that development partners operating within the district and the Government have played a key role,” said Mr Mlauzi.
He said with the 2024 devolution funding, they were going to make sure that schools under construction were completed and commissioned this year before they embark on other projects. The developments are, however, not without challenges.
“On the construction of schools, funding remains a major challenge stalling progress. It would be much appreciated if we receive help in that area,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter