Enrolment surge at Nechibondo Primary, prompts HLB to plan new school

A surge in population, driven by heightened economic activity in the mining and energy sectors, has seen Nechibondo Primary School become oversubscribed, prompting Hwange Local Board (HLB) to consider the construction of an additional school.

HLB Town Secretary Mr Ndumiso Mdlalose said overcrowding at the Empumalanga high-density suburb’s only public primary education institution has compelled them as Council to embark on the construction of an additional school at Dynamic Village to ease pressure on existing facilities.
“Over the years, Hwange has experienced steady population growth as people migrate to the area in search of employment in the mining and energy sectors. Many of these workers have settled with their families, resulting in increased enrolments at local schools.
“The expansion of residential settlements has further compounded the situation, with more children per household entering the education system, leading to a significant surge in learner numbers at Nechibondo Primary School,” he said.

Nechibondo Primary School has an enrolment exceeding 1 700 pupils, forcing 17 classes to operate on a hot-sitting arrangement each week due to inadequate classroom space.

The only other primary school in Empumalanga is privately owned, while three additional schools serving nearby medium- and low-density suburbs of Chibondo and Baobab are also private institutions, which are largely unaffordable for low-income households.

Mr Mdlalose said they have already mobilised some of the resources, particularly construction materials, for at least two classroom blocks and an administration block for the new school.
“In the same vein, we have completed the requisite documentation to facilitate the procurement of labour in-line with the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) regulations,” he added.

He said HLB has set its sights on constructing the new school at an estimated to cost of more than US$500 000, to be financed through the local authority’s own resources or the Devolution Fund.

While the Council has also earmarked three additional sites for new schools, with one at the DRC section of Empumalanga and two in Empumalanga Phase 4.