Vusumuzi Dube
Mkhululi Ncube, Sunday News Reporter
MLAMBAPELE Primary School has received a facelift after former students of the school under the Mlambapele Former Students Association (MFSA) banner erected a perimeter fence at the Gwanda District-based school in Matabeleland South Province.
The association was formed last year and is celebrating its first development at the school meant to enhance security and help create a better learning environment for learners.
The major objective of MFSA which now has chapters both within and outside the country is to give back to the school that shaped their lives.
The erection of a perimeter fence is meant to also keep livestock from roaming inside school premises. The association’s secretary-general Mr Melulwazi Dlamini said they are working with the school development committee and school authorities to transform the school with major projects in the pipeline.
“The association is driven by a commitment to give back to the school that shaped our lives. We have completed our first task of erecting a perimeter fence around the school to enhance the security of the learning environment at the school for current and future learners,” he said.
Mr Dlamini said they contributed US$5 per member and managed to buy the fence and associated material. He said going forward, they will be embarking on renovating classrooms to help provide a comfortable environment that can produce good results for the school.
“The association is dedicated to renovating, maintaining and creating a conducive environment that ensures the school remains a secure and respectful place for learners. This milestone is a testament to the power of community and the impact of collective action. Such efforts are also a demonstration of the power that former students can have in developing institutions that shaped them,” he said.
The school SDC vice chairperson Miss Verocious Modayihaile said the move by the former students has given a positive spirit for teaching staff, learners and the community as a whole.
“This donation came at the right time because the school fence was in tatters. The project is one of those we wanted to embark on as the SDC, so this has really come in handy for us. We urge the association to continue with their efforts as it will make our school one of the best,” she said.
The school head, Mr Tetso Ncube said due to the poor state of the school’s infrastructure, some parents were now transferring their children to better schools.
He said many in the community had lost hope of the school ever recovering from the poor state it was in.
“There was a time when our school was in a poor state and parents were withdrawing their children. They had lost hope that the school would regain its former glory. We thank the leadership of the association and we hope to see more work being done to transform the school to its full potential,” said Mr Ncube.
Some of the upcoming projects to be done by the association in conjunction with the SDC are replacing solar batteries, buying soccer and netball kits, renovating the play centre and installation of the sliding gate as well as signposting. @themkhust
Bongani Ndlovu