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Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
LEARNERS from Mutare Boys’ High School were the toast of the just-ended Jewel of the East drawing and painting contest after scooping top positions in all the three competition categories.
The gold winner in the Form One and Two ‘My City, My Park’ category was Blessed Pedzeni of Mutare Boys’ High School, while the silver winner was Tawananyasha Mawodzere of Nyamauru High School.
The bronze winner was Hamilton Mandaza of Nyamauru High School.
In the Form Three and Four category titled ‘My Safe School Road Safety Zone’, the gold winner was Joshua Tuhwe of Mutare Boys’ High School, while his schoolmate, Craig Mupoga settled for silver.
The bronze winner for that category was Prince Mutore of the same school.
For the third Form Five and Six ‘My City, My Future (SMART CITY)’ category, the gold winner was Adel Muradzikwa of Mutare Boys’ High School, while schoolmate, Christen Zembe settled for silver.
Richmond Marandu, also of the same school, scooped bronze.
For the gold winner, a US$100 prize money was rewarded, while the silver winner got US$75.
Those who settled for bronze received US$50.
All winners received a T-shirt, certificate and medal.
Schools that partook in the competition include St Mary’s, Light Academy, Nyamauru High, Mutare Boys’ High, Eastern Heights, Mutare Girls’ High, Elise Gledhill, Ridgeville, Alpha, First Class Academy, Crystal Academy and Sakubva Two High.
In giving a background of the competition, City of Mutare deputy housing director, Mr Noel Mushangwe said: “The City of Mutare Junior Council in partnership with Gender Links (Gender Links (GL), a leading Southern African women’s rights organisation, launched the “Jewel of the East; Drawing/Painting Competition’’, which is basically a children or youth drawing competition aimed at enhancing child or youth participation in local governance.
“The competition was aimed at recognising children and youth as partners and as individual human beings, rights-holders and equal, active citizens with the ability to influence service delivery in the city. In addition, the youths are given a chance to be involved in City Council planning,” he said.
In the ‘My City, My Park’ category, children were encouraged to submit their ideal Recreational Park, while participants in the ‘My Safe School Road Safety Zone’ were encouraged to submit drawings or painting of their ideal road safety infrastructure around school areas.
For the ‘My City, My Future (SMART CITY)’ participants were encouraged to submit drawings or painting of their ideal futuristic smart city or vision of their city.
A total of 105 drawings or paintings were received from 13 schools in Mutare.
Mr Mushangwe said: “The visual arts competition will become an annual event funded by the City Council and all interested partners or stakeholders and at least one project will be funded and implemented under the City Junior Council Budget.”
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