Government, development partner collaboration transforms community development

CLOSE collaboration between Government and development partners is impacting positively on previously marginalised communities whose lives are being transformed through various development projects.

The construction of two boarding dormitories and a computer laboratory at Selukwe Peak Primary School in Shurugwi in the Midlands province is one of the shining outcomes of such strategies partnerships.

Mr Simon Karimanzira, general manager of Chenxi Chengetai Investments, a company involved in the school project, said the construction of new dormitories for both boys and girls at the school was already underway.

He commended Government’s inclusive development policies for facilitating partnerships, especially in enhancing the education standards in the country.

“We sat down as the management team and came up with the idea of giving back to communities that surround our working spaces and this is one of the places where we want to show the nation that Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo. We are constructing boarding facilities and a computer laboratory,” he said.

Mr Karimanzira said Government considers education as a key enabler for sustainable socio- economic development and ultimately Zimbabwe achieving middle- income status by year 2030.

He said as such, the Government has adopted Heritage- Based Education 5.0 whose thrust is to foster innovation, industrialisation and modernisation of schools through production of goods and services that address their needs.

“Gone are the days when the business of educating a child were that of the school and the parents. Stakeholder participation is now recognised as a key active pillar in the provision of quality sustainable education hence my presence here today as I represent my company Chenxi Chengetai Investments,” said Mr Karimanzira.

Chenxi Chengetai investments is a gold mining entity whose vision is not only to be recognised amongst the top gold producers of Zimbabwe but also to transform the livelihoods of communities it operate in.

“Supporting education is one of our key result areas. I come before you today with a text book donation to Selukwe Peak Primary School of 524 copies of text books covering all curriculum learning areas and ranging from ECD up to grade 7 level,” he said.

Mr Karimanzira said Chenxi Chengetai Investments does not only support education of the children but also has a keen interest in ensuring that communities of Shurugwi District are food secure at household level.

“About two months or so ago, my company donated 60 tonnes of 10kg mealie meal to communities in Shurugwi North and South,” he said.

“Last week the company made another purchase of an additional 60 tonnes of 10kg mealie meal again to be distributed equally between Shurugwi North and South wards so that those who did not benefit during the first round can now benefit.”

Mr Karimanzira said they were committed to further assist communities in farming to ensure adequate food production.

“We are working closely with the local leadership, which comprises of District lands office, the chiefs, councillors and village heads to identify suitable land in different wards as we strive to launch and roll out this programme,” he said.

The company has also drilled and equipped community boreholes in Wards 19 and 4, which are predominantly resettlement areas where the beneficiaries of the land reform and settlement programme had no access to portable water.

Selukwe Peak Primary School head Mrs Matildah Zvavamwe hailed the development saying this will improve the school’s infrastructure and learning standards in line with the target to attain an upper-middle-income society by 2030.

“I am hopeful and confident that the construction of these blocks will change the face of this school,” she said.