Online Reporter
Daniel Chigunwe
Herald Correspondent
Mazowe Central legislator Dr Maxmore Njanji has intensified efforts to improve education infrastructure and digital access in rural communities, with Shutu Adventist Secondary School becoming the latest beneficiary of his constituency-wide education drive.
Dr Njanji donated a Starlink kit to the school during its prize-giving ceremony on Thursday and initiated efforts to connect the institution to electricity, paving the way for greater use of digital learning facilities.
The intervention is expected to improve access to online educational resources and create an enabling environment for the school to embrace technologies that support the Government’s Education 5.0 thrust.
Dr Njanji said rural learners should have access to modern educational opportunities regardless of where they live.
“Our children in rural communities deserve the same opportunities to learn, research and innovate as those in urban areas,” he said.
“Providing connectivity is only the beginning; we must also ensure that the school has electricity to fully utilise modern learning facilities.”
The latest intervention follows similar initiatives at other schools in Mazowe Central, where Dr Njanji has supported electricity, infrastructure and digital connectivity projects.
Ward 7 councillor Patience Dutiro said the development at Shutu demonstrated the importance of bringing modern educational opportunities closer to rural communities.
“This is the kind of development that makes a real difference to our communities. When a school gets electricity and internet connectivity, we are not simply providing infrastructure; we are opening opportunities for our children to access information, conduct research and acquire skills that are relevant to the modern economy,” she said.
Cllr. Dutiro said cooperation among legislators, local authorities, schools and communities would be important in sustaining the initiative.
“As Ward 7, we appreciate initiatives that respond to the actual needs of our people. Our responsibility is now to ensure that these facilities are protected and used effectively for the benefit of learners and the wider community,” she said.
Dr Njanji said the objective was to ensure that rural schools were not left behind as Zimbabwe advanced towards a knowledge-driven economy.
“Education remains one of our major priorities because the future of our communities depends on the quality of education we provide today,” he said.
“We will continue mobilising resources and working with stakeholders to address gaps affecting our schools.”
His interventions have also extended to professional training. He recently attended a graduation ceremony at Howard Hospital School of Nursing and Midwifery, where more than 70 nurses graduated. Dr Njanji pledged to support the institution’s growth.
He subsequently donated a Starlink kit to the nursing school to assist students with research and access to digital learning resources.
The legislator said supporting institutions that train health professionals was equally important to national development.
“We must support education at every level,from the rural secondary school to institutions that train the professionals who serve our communities. When we invest in learners and research, we are investing in Zimbabwe’s human capital,” he said.
The interventions come as the Government continues to emphasise access to quality education, innovation, research and skills development under Education 5.0.
For Shutu, the immediate priority is now to complement the newly introduced digital connectivity with reliable electricity, allowing the school to make fuller use of computers and other technology-enabled learning facilities.
The initiative also speaks to the wider development needs of rural communities, where access to basic infrastructure remains central to improving the quality of education and expanding opportunities for young people.
