Mbire school gets facelift

Ivan Zhakata recently in MBIRE

A school in Mbire, which was crying out for renovations, recently got a facelift, courtesy of a local safari company that put a new roof, ceiling and repainted the structures in support of Government’s efforts to create a conducive environment for learners.

Gonono Primary School, situated in Gonono Ward 4, had its two blocks of five classrooms spruced  up, putting an end to roof leaks that disturbed learners during rainy seasons. The blocks were repainted and the windows were secured with burglar bars. Classrooms now have new chalk boards and a solar-powered borehole was drilled to ensure enough water supplies.

Charlton McCallum Safaris chipped in at a time villagers were now shunning Gonono School and preferring to send their children to other schools, far from the village.

One of the residents, Mr Tichaona Kambuzuma, hailed the development but appealed for the expansion of the school to accommodate more children.

“We will be much happier if they could build more blocks so that the school can accommodate more children from the community. The children did not know what a ceiling looks like but now they are learning in classrooms with ceilings which is a good exposure to them,” he said.

Another resident Mrs Tsitsi Mupeyama said the state of the school had resulted in teachers and children refusing to go to the school.

“Our children were refusing to go to school especially during the rainy season because it the leakages on the roof would disrupt the lessons. They feared the roofing sheets would fall on them but now the school has been transformed,” she said.

Gonono Primary School headmaster Mr Patson Kawocha also thanked CM Safaris for upgrading the school.

“We would like to thank CM Safaris for renovating the school as this will go a long way in improving education by attracting highly qualified teachers,” he said.

“Teachers are now enjoying teaching here as they are now operating in a safe and clean environment. We are also appealing to CM Safaris to build an additional block of classrooms to accommodate more pupils,” Mr Kawocha said.

Mr Buzz Charlton, director of Charlton McCallum Safaris said they were determined to develop Mbire district for the benefit of the locals.

“One thing that really concerned us in this area was lack of education. More so not from lack of teachers but really there were infrastructural problems. We have completely redone the school and I think that it has become the most quality school in the Mbire area at the moment.

“This district is an area I have been involved with for 25 years and we would like to see the development in every form and education is a big factor for us. We are also doing another school in the northern area in Pedzapasi with regards to our push on education for the Mbire district,” he said.