Lupanda schools cluster alumni sets pace for development

Lovemore Dube in Lupane

A COLLECTIVE effort by alumni from the Lupanda Primary Schools cluster in Lupane has shown that former pupils have a role to play in uplifting the communities that nurtured them after they pulled resources and started thriving agricultural projects on their plots.

Lupanda is a community in Lupane District between the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road and the railway line to Victoria Falls. 

The projects are on sizeable plots of over 55 hectares where principally cattle ranching and goat rearing with a good number having sunk boreholes to grow green vegetables have been initiated.

The chairman of the organisation, Francis Nkomazana said they came together as former pupils of Ukhombo Primary School and identified sport as a way of supporting their community with uniforms. 

They later came up with the concept of tournaments as a way of reaching out to children and spreading the word against the ills of drug and substance abuse.

He said after children dropped out of school at Grade Seven some were afflicted by the ills of the community with drug and substance abuse topping the list.

“We came together as former pupils of Mkhombo (Ward 22) to start with what we called Umkhombo Primary Schools Cluster Tournament. After noticing that most of our schools had no proper sporting uniforms we bought and donated to all the schools, we then came up with the idea of a tournament where we donated these uniforms and in 2021 we started the tournament,” said Nkomazana.

The tournament which features netball and soccer has been hosted by four schools.

“Our main campaign is against the abuse of drugs because in this area young boys in Form One and Form Two and Grade Sevens are using drugs,” said Nkomazana.

Nkomazana said they are touched by some of the schools registering zero percent at Grade Seven level. 

He said that would soon be a thing of the past as they will now introduce a crash Summer School for Grade Sevens where teachers from all the schools in the area will be involved. He said each teacher has his own strengths which could benefit children from other cluster schools.

“Our main target is to eradicate zero percent pass rate. Most of our schools are getting from zero to 10 percent pass rate. We are working with the community, teachers, the Ministry and parents. We are introducing camping that we call the Summer School, that will be supported by all teachers, remember teachers have different touches,” said Nkomazana whose committee has Dumisani Gumpo a former playright based in Bulawayo, Thandiwe Dube, Maqhawe Mazula, Onele Gumpo, Enamani Volo, Ezra Volo, Timothy Volo, Duduzile Nkomazana, Bongani Gumpo and Charlton Ndebele.

Mkhombo Primary School was the biggest beneficiary in the third activity window as the committee was able to harness resources well over US$11 000 to drill a borehole, set up a solar system, a water tank and stand.

“We realised the dire need for clean and running water at the school. We were able to raise over US$11 000 from a donor to do the borehole project at the school. There is so much lined up that we would like to do for our community with resources permitting. Ours is a typical charity begins at home or Khumbula Ekhaya concept, where we want to have a positive social impact in communities where we were born and raised. We are saying we have had that little privilege to make a bit or have good contacts and with that, let us sweeten moments for our people,” said Timothy Volo who stays in Zimbabwe after returning four years ago following a 12-year stint in the diaspora.

Provincial Education Officer Jabulani Aggrey Mpofu praised the organisers of the tournament for the development at their former schools for the good deed.

“I thank the efforts of the Old Students Association, local sponsors working abroad, school committees in the cluster for being key drivers of the heritage-based education in the Lupanda Cluster. You are key drivers of improving the future lives of learners in your area.

He emphasised that the heritage-based curriculum seeks to motivate learners to cherish their Zimbabwean identity and values, things that appear to be ingrained in the patriotic alumni of Lupanda.

Siphophoma won the six-team netball tournament 9-1 against Tshayamathole while in football Phumakanye beat Masungamala 2-1 to be crowned this year’s champions.

Siphophoma, Masungamala, Mkhombio, Ilihlo, Tshayamathole and Phumakanye are the six schools that make the cluster.