Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura
IT was pomp and fanfare at Mlomotsha School of Excellence last Friday as it marked a milestone achievement of successfully hosting its first-ever Speech and Prize-Giving Day ceremony.
The event drew a broad audience, including parents, School Development Committee members, the Deputy Minister of Defence and Member of Parliament for Umzingwane District, Brigadier-General (Retired) Levi Mayihlome, traditional leaders and representatives from the school’s partners.
Mlomotsha School of Excellence is an independent Christian boarding school that prepares learners for Zimsec, Cambridge, Hexco, City and Guilds and other examinations.
Held under the theme “Honouring Dedication and Rewarding Excellence,” the Speech and Prize-Giving Day recognised not only outstanding learners but also the teachers whose dedication fosters academic success.
Top achievers from Form One to Form Four received individual awards, with some honoured with multiple prizes for their exceptional performance.
The event was livened up by impressive displays of pupil talent, featuring public speaking, drum majorettes and dance performances, underscoring the school’s commitment to academic and extra-curricular excellence.
Founded in 2014, Mlomotsha School of Excellence began enrolling pupils in 2022. It serves 235 pupils, 126 boys and 109 girls, supported by 12 teachers.
The private institution offers both day and boarding facilities and is located in Mlomolihoto, Ward Five, Umzingwane District, a distance of about 14 kilometres from the Bulawayo–Beitbridge Road.
In her remarks, the school’s principal, Mrs Sinqobile Mathe, described the day as historic.
“Today is a special and historic day as we gather not only to honour excellence but to witness a dream growing before our eyes. We stand under the mighty mountain and declare Lathi sifisa ukukhula sibe ngangawe,” she said.
Mrs Mathe also highlighted that the school is a Zimsec examination centre for Form Four and is registering for Cambridge examinations through the British Council.
The school offers a variety of extra-curricular activities, including volleyball, netball, football and athletics, providing learners with opportunities to develop their talents beyond academics.
School founder Mr Cecil Sibanda, whose speech was played in audio form, emphasised the school’s vision to become the best in the region by combining academics with diverse courses aimed at nurturing talents beyond traditional subjects.
“This will help ensure that when some finish school, they shouldn’t go back to the community and sit without doing anything. Empowerment will start here as we will be introducing different courses,” he said.
He added, “At Mlomotsha School of Excellence, we believe that every student possesses unique potential. For those who may need additional support, we provide remedial work using laptops to enhance their understanding and academic performance. Our team of highly dedicated teachers plays a key role in delivering this individualised support.”
Mr Sibanda also spoke about the school’s investment in advanced digital learning platforms such as IXL Learning, Khan Academy and Google educational tools.
“With the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI), we are confident that our institution is well-prepared for the future of learning. Students share computers in pairs and each learner has access to a dedicated laptop for their studies. We have implemented strict security measures and monitoring software to ensure that the technology is used responsibly and exclusively for educational purposes,” he said.
Brig-Gen (Rtd) Levi Mayihlome, praised Mr Sibanda for his commitment to the community through education.
He particularly commended the inclusion of vocational courses, stressing the importance of practical skills alongside academics.
“These kids should learn mining at early stages so that we educate them on how to do it early. They should also learn tourism, dressmaking, because these things are essential nowadays,” he said.
The Deputy Minister donated US$200 towards the construction of a new school block and gave US$50 to Form One pupil Lindeni S. Nkala, whose speech impressed him.
“This kid is intelligent and should continue doing great work,” he remarked.
Guest of honour Mr Junior John Ngulube contributed US$500 to the new block’s construction. In his address, he challenged learners to focus amid distractions.
“You need to focus because this world is full of distractions — there is social media, the fast life, peer pressure — everyone will be telling you who to be, but focus on who you want to be,” he said.
Zimbabwe Republic Police Community Relations and Liaison Officer for Matabeleland South Inspector Chiratidzo Dube, urged learners to avoid bullying and warned parents against drug involvement.
“Assaults eventually turn into murder, thefts at school eventually turn into robberies. Let’s not be involved in the supply or use of drugs and to parents, don’t sell drugs in the name of ‘kungwava-ngwava’ (hustling),” she cautioned.
As part of the ceremony, Deputy Minister Mayihlome and Mr Ngulube each planted a tree near the school gate, contributing to the National Tree Planting Day initiative.
derick.khumalo