NEW: Massive facelift for Mbire school

Online Reporter

A once dilapidated school in the remote area of Mbire in Mashonaland Central, has been given a major facelift following renovations and installation of a solar powered borehole, by a local hunting operator, Charlton McCallum Safaris.

Charlton McCallum Safaris, which operates in the ‘Dande North and West’ in the Mbire district, upgraded Gonono Primary School in Ward 4, by replacing the roof, installing a new ceiling, burglar bars and chalk boards, among other refurbishments.

Other upgrades done include laying of a brick pavement, new paint, as well as a complete overhaul of the headmaster’s office.

Charlton McCallum Safaris director, Mr Buzz Charlton, said they had raised US$60 000 for rehabilitation of the school.

“We decided that this is the starting point and we have done several blocks including the headmaster’s office. We have completely redone the school and I think that it has become the most quality school in the Mbire area at the moment.

“The Trust has been so happy with the development and they have given us more money which we will allocate next year towards the teachers’ accommodation, because we hope to attract highly qualified teachers we have to have decent accommodation,” he said.

Mr Charlton, who has been in Mbire for the past 25 years, said the organisation is also upgrading other schools including in the northern area in Pedzapasi.

Gonono Primary School headmaster, Mr Patson Kawocha, said teachers were shunning the school due to poor infrastructure.

“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 who were shunning to come and teach here because of the school’s previous state,” he said.

“Teachers are now enjoying teaching here as they are now teaching in a safe and clean environment.

“We are also appealing to CM Safaris if they can also build a block of classrooms so that we can enroll more children in the community so that they do not walk long distances to schools in other villages.”