Online Reporter
Mthabisi Tshuma, [email protected]
BULILIMA District continues to make strides in ensuring the accessibility of the constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human right that entitles every citizen and permanent resident to basic state-funded education, which the State must make progressively available and accessible.
Such a development comes as the groundbreaking ceremony for a new school in the district was held on Saturday at Tjaguta in Malalume Ward under Chief Madlambudzi.
The establishment of Tjaguta Primary School will ease the burden of travelling long distances for children from Village 7, 10 and 14, Malalume 1 and 2, Tjaguta and Ntabamhlophe villages.
Currently, children who are able to attend primary school have to travel to Malalume Primary, Mboma Primary or Sevaka Primary.
Roughly, from Tjaguta to Malalume is six kilometres away, Tjaguta to Mboma is eight kilometres away, and Tjaguta to Sevaka is 10 kilometres away.
The groundbreaking ceremony, which was officiated by Bulilima Constituency legislator Cde Dingumuzi Phuti, served as a fundraising initiative where attendees pledged their support.
Led by Headman Senganyondo, who contributed R100, the community and churches were able to raise pledges of the sum of R1100 and US$11.
Zanu PF Ward 14 members contributed R500, while Enock Construction pledged one load each of river sand, quarry sand, and pit sand. The construction company also pledged to fix the road that goes straight into the school from the main road.
Cde Phuti pledged 50 bags of cement, whereas Mvimi Safaris pledged to paint one classroom block. Bulilima Rural District Council (BRDC) pledged 35 bricks, four heavy-duty door frames, eight window frames, and cement to be delivered according to progress. Children of the war veterans pledged to participate in all works done at the school.
The local community working with the Diaspora has also managed to purchase 100 bags of cement.
Cde Phuti, who is also Deputy Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, said they will continue to embark on infrastructure development projects heeding the vision of President Mnangagwa.
“We are not stopping at anything in pursuit of Vision 2030 and the vision of our President, Dr ED Mnangagwa. We envision an educated society which becomes national wealth and which shall place Zimbabwe at the top in innovation and services.
“By building more schools, we seek to reduce learners’ walking distance to school and improve the teacher-to-pupil ratio in classes. This improves education quality. Tjaguta joins other schools long mooted from the 1960s to the 1990s, which we are just formalising. It will be one of the feeder primary schools to Malalume Secondary. It joins Mboma, Malopa, Mafeha, Malalume and Nswazwi as feeder schools,” said Deputy Minister Phuti.
Bulilima District Schools Inspector Mr Gobile Gobile said the construction of Tjaguta Primary School brings the tally to 71 schools.
“We have 70 Primary Schools, 71 now with Tjaguta Primary School, which is our new kid on the block. In Bulilima District, no Primary School pupil should travel for more than five kilometres to access education.
“We thank our Member of Parliament, Cde Phuti, and our RDC for responding positively to our request to the Ministry for more schools in the District,” said Mr Gobile.
A villager, Mrs Charity Lino Dube, said the construction of the school will be a major step forward.
“For a long time our children have had to walk long distances to access school either in Malalume, Mboma and Sevaka. This saw our children failing to attend ECD classes in time.
“The school construction will also boost trade as there is now growth of our business centre,” said Mrs Dube.
Malalume 2 Village Head Mr Micah Tjikitji Ndlovu said children have been exposed to danger while others were failing to attend school.
“Our children have had to walk long distances, and they get to school tired. For those below Grade 3, it was just too far.
“We are happy that our MP has led the groundbreaking ceremony, and we are targeting to have two classroom blocks at Coll East by December. We are calling for well-wishers to come on board in the construction of the school,” said Mr Ndlovu.
