‘Equip of rural schools with modern equipment’

Addressing villagers and heads of Government departments in Tsholotsho where he toured Manqe Secondary, a school that he is building, Acting President Nkomo said meaningful development was hinged on developing skilled human resource capital and adopting contemporary production techniques, which can compete with global market forces.
“The whole world today is about science and technology. Some of the traditional approaches are no longer relevant. We are living in a computer or Information and Communication Technology (ICT) inspired era. Things should be done differently if we are to move with the times.
“Some of us the elderly might have missed these things but they are a critical component of our children’s future. We have to promote their usage for the sake of our children who would take over from us. It is high time that all schools, especially rural schools, take science and technology seriously,” said Acting President Nkomo.
“These children should live in a different world and together we have a duty to create an enabling environment that cares for them. We have to set up systems that would brighten their future.”
Acting President Nkomo bemoaned the exodus of youths and skilled personnel to neighbouring countries such as South Africa.
He said the development was robbing the country of the much-needed skills and called for concerted efforts to reverse the trend.
Acting President Nkomo challenged communities to encourage their children to develop survival skills and create own jobs instead of crossing the borders to seek employment in neighbouring countries.
“A lot of our youths are leaving the country to
countries like South Africa and sadly some of them return home in coffins. We should bring this to an end and create a lasting legacy for them.
“We should train our children to be self sufficient instead of being employment seekers. They should do away with the mentality that going to South Africa is the panacea to their problems,” he said.
Acting President Nkomo took the huge crowd down memory lane when he chronicled how black Zimbabweans were suppressed by the settler colonial regime, which gave impetus to the liberation struggle.
He urged all Zimbabweans to work hard towards bringing meaningful development in the country saying the liberation struggle that brought independence and freedom to Zimbabwe should be guarded jealously through working together.
“We are in a free Zimbabwe and there is still a lot to be done to give meaning to this freedom. Let us do everything we can and use all our abilities to create a legacy for future generations,” he said.
The Acting President, accompanied by principal director in his office, Mr Benson Martins Dube and the provincial education director for Matabeleland North Mrs Boithatelo Mnguni, toured Manqe Secondary School and expressed satisfaction with progress made so far.
He said his dream was to make Manqe one of the best science teaching schools in the country.
Acting President Nkomo is from Manqe area where he grew up and did his elementary education.