Mayihlome hands over classroom block

Sunday News Reporter
ZANU-PF candidate for Umzingwane constituency Retired Brigadier-General Levi Mayihlome has called on schools to utilise land at their disposal to embark on projects that resonate with the country’s Command Agriculture initiative in order to sustain themselves financially.

Officially opening a classroom block recently that was renovated by the Australian Embassy at a cost of $29 000 at Esikhoveni Secondary School in Umzingwane District after it was destroyed by a hail storm, the aspiring candidate said schools should use the land given to them to sustain themselves through projects that dovetail with Command Agriculture.

“The philosophy of giving land to schools should be understood from the premise that they should work and be productive.

This time the Government has come up with Command Agriculture where schools can easily embark on poultry, piggery and even livestock production which are low hanging fruits,” he said.

Rtd Brig-Gen Mayihlome thanked the Australian government for the gesture saying they were all-weather friends. The embassy through its Direct Aid Programme (DAP) assisted the school by renovating a classroom block.

“We are grateful to the Australian Embassy’s DAP for walking the talk and doing something about the challenge at the school.

This is not the first time they have assisted the school, in 2016 they assisted to the tune of US$35 000 to fit and equip the schools science laboratory and water provision,” he said.

He said the students have to show appreciation by performing better than what they were doing.

“The best way to thank the Australian Embassy is to deliver quality results. The current 64 percent pass rate is not good enough; we need 100 percent pass rate. This is actually being achieved in some schools, some that are not as fortunate,” he said.

Rtd Brig-Gen Mayihlome also told parents to take it upon themselves to pay the school fees in time and to regard educating their children as an investment and their responsibility.

“I challenge you to make contributions to the education by paying required amounts for fees and school development on time just like we pay our beer bills and airtime which are not even our investments,” he said.

The pupils were also urged to take advantage of vocational and tertiary education opportunities available in the region.

“Given that agriculture and building are core practical subjects at the school we therefore expect to see ex-Esikhoveni pupils populating Esigodini Agricultural College and Youth Vocational Training centre to learn special skills. But sadly that is not the case at the moment,” he said.

Rtd Brig-Gen Mayihlome said they further expected to see students enrolling at the National University of Science and Technology and other tertiary institutions as the economy was growing making way for more opportunities in Zimbabwe and beyond.

The headmaster, Mr Michael Shingirai, said the school was facing challenges that range from inadequate financial resources as parents were not paying fees on time as well as furniture which was last bought in 1984 when the school was opened and was never replaced. He said the school grounds needed to be levelled so that they participate in the various sporting activities.

He said  the school had so much potential to grow if all stakeholders were to co-operate.