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Business Reporter
THE Lotteries and Gaming Board has constructed and fully furnished a two-classroom block at Elim Primary School in Penhalonga.
The classroom block was handed over to the school last week on Friday in a clear testimony of Government’s commitment to deliver on its development oriented policies.
The construction of the classroom block started in 2019, as a 100-Day Cycle project. However, due to several challenges that include the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and price instability, the project at one time stalled.
It was later resuscitated and completed this year as a Lotteries and Gaming Board second quarter priority project.
The Lotteries and Gaming Board fully funded the Elim Primary School project to the tune of $3 049 276 plus US$5 800.
The school also enrols learners with hard of hearing impairment.
Speaking at the hand-over ceremony, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe who was represented by the outgoing Permanent Secretary in his ministry, Mr Aaron Nhepera, said the Second Republic, since its inception, has placed project implementation at the core of its development agenda.
“My ministry through the Lotteries and Gaming Board, has over the years been building standard classroom blocks in schools as a means of uplifting the lives of less privileged communities. Elim Primary School is one of the beneficiaries of this gesture.
“I am made to understand that this school also enrols learners with hard of hearing impairment.
“This dovetails well with His Excellency, President Mnangagwa’s clarion call of leaving no one and no place behind in the development trajectory,” said Minister Kazembe.
The community and the school administration, together with the School Development Committee coordinated resources and manpower to ensure the completion of this project.
“This Government and community collaboration is the future of sustainable community development and I am proud that the Lotteries and Gaming Board in particular and my ministry in general are part of this effort. We are brighter and better together.
“To the learners of this school and others, please take this investment as a pillar of inspiration for you to excel in your academic pursuits.
The value of resources invested in this project and the accompanying furniture should be a challenge to you to work hard to improve yourself so that you in turn will be able to further develop this school for the generations that will come after you,” said Minister Kazembe.
Speaking at the same occasion Lotteries and Gaming Board acting chairman, Mr Fredson Mabhena said the commissioning of the classroom block marks another milestone in the board’s pursuit of excellence in fulfilling its mandate in as far as socio-economic assistance is concerned.
“My board inherited this project as a stalled project after it had started in 2019. In 2021, we then collectively took a deliberate decision to resuscitate the project and see it to completion.
“ We are very proud to observe the successful completion of the construction and the purchase of the furniture and hope it will mitigate the challenge of overcrowded classrooms.
“This school enrols children with hard of hearing impairment and this is important as we believe that all children should have access to education so that even children with handicaps or in social weaknesses will be able to decide what they want to do in future according to their capabilities.
“We applaud the school for such a deliberate effort and we urge you to continue such good work by even increasing the enrolment of such learners, and whenever we can, we will always come like what is being witnessed today,” said Mr Mabhena.
He added: “Good facilities and good infrastructure are important for the production of good school outcomes. I have no doubt that better facilities, such as new standard classrooms and new modern furniture, encourage better school attendance, and better attendance is good for students.
“This is also good for the broader community surrounding Elim School and indeed good for the nation of Zimbabwe at large as it removes mischief which comes with inactivity.”
Member of National Assembly for Mutasa South, Cde Misheck Mugadza, hailed the development and said: “As the Penhalonga community, we are over the moon with this development.
We want to pay special tribute to the late Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba who saw the need to invest in new infrastructure at this school and helped in sourcing the funding.
“The new classroom block has changed the face of this community and we hope more players will also come on board and construct more classrooms at a number of schools which used to cater for children of parents who were employed in the commercial farms around this area.
“Investment in education will help to empower the community and Zimbabwe will attain Vision 2030 as a result.”
Online Reporter