Hwange Local Board completes US$100 000 library

A new era in the quality of education beckons in Hwange as the Hwange Local Board (HLB) expects to commission a state-of-the-art digitised multi-purpose library in June.

Construction of the US$100 000 library is complete and work is currently underway to furnish it.

HLB partnered with South Mining Private Limited to construct the library which is expected to enhance access to research and transform education in Hwange District.

South Mining is one of the leading coal mining and processing companies in Hwange and is financing the construction as part of its corporate social responsibility.

This will be the first modern library in Matabeleland North province and is expected to serve primary and secondary schools as well as tertiary education students and lecturers.

It is also expected to help citizens access e-government services thereby contributing to national development through access to information.

HLB public relations officer Mr Dumisani Nsingo said construction of the library and the caretaker’s house has been completed with the outstanding work being some minor fittings to the two infrastructures.

He said part of the outstanding work includes the installation of fire equipment, air conditioners, burglar bars and computers which have been procured.

“The library is expected to be commissioned before the end of June. The computers have been procured and what is left is purchasing of books and furnishing of the reception area. Furniture for use by library users such as chairs, desks and shelves is already in place.

“We expect a modern library with Integrated Library Management Systems (ILMS) and some reading materials that cannot be sourced by parents. This library will come in handy by providing learners with a reading environment that will enable them to concentrate.

“We believe this library will play a pivotal role in improving surrounding schools and district’s pass rate. Most of our learners do not have conducive places to do their studies and are expected to effectively utilise and benefit from this facility,” said Mr Nsingo.

The library is located in Empumalanga and it will primarily serve Chilisa and Kalope Secondary schools, Don Bosco Technical College, Nechibondo, Megawatt, Micky Muffy and Springfield Primary schools.

It will also be accessible to Hwange Teachers’ College and Zimbabwe Open University, as well as Catholic University in Zimbabwe which is based in Victoria Falls.– @ncubeleon.