Parent donates ox to Rimbi High teachers

Tobias Mlambo Mubhangi
IN a rare and unparalleled show of appreciation for teachers’ consistent strenuous endeavours and meritorious efforts, Mr Panganai Chirimambowa-Chigadziri of Manzvire, donated one of his biggest oxen to Rimbi High School members of staff. The handsome donation of the ox-a colossal beast, dwarfed all other donations the school has ever received from its individual stakeholders and fittingly filled all and sundry with unalloyed joy.

The enormous beast arrived at the school on Thursday, 10 July 2014 around 4:00 pm, being driven by Rimbi High School teachers Messers Gondai Chinaa, Admire Matende and Aleck Chiora. The trio commendably volunteered to walk all the way from Manzvire, being escorted by Mr Chigadzira’s vehicle. Mr Chigadzira’s entourage included Mr Samuel Chakanaka Dhibi, a fellow resident of Manzvire, and Mr Liberty Dhliwayo, a noted Rimbi High School senior teacher.

The arrival of the huge ox created a stir at the school as exultant teachers, with extraordinary spontaneity, abruptly collected and jostled to take cell phone photos of the hefty animal. It was then that this writer requested his colleague, Mr Raymond Mhlanga, who owns the most state-of-the-art cellular phone, to take photos for publication.

The thrill that rippled through the teachers was writ large. It was expressed through thunderous ovations and shrill ululations, as Rimbi members of staff, led by Mrs Perpetual Muchirinoza, the school’s 2013 best ‘O’ level teacher, Mrs Grace Dhliwayo one of the school’s senior teachers, and Mrs Reginah Macheke the deputy head, registered their acknowledgement and appreciation. It was indeed, a fascinating exhibition of pure unadulterated pleasure.

The arrival of the village Head, Mr Nyasha Rimbi-Munyamana and the school’s former long-serving S.D.C chairperson, Mr Adonis Mutseyami, added a touch of glamour to the preliminary celebrations. Both men were manifestly awestruck by Mr Chigadzira’s unprecedented generous gesture, for which they accordingly accorded him befitting commendation.

In his remarks, Mr Chigadzira noted that he is immensely impressed by the teachers’ unequivocal commitment, self-sacrifice and workmanship- performance that continue to yield fabulous examination results. He was therefore rewarding the go-getting staff for the schools academic excellence. He also noted that it was his heart’s overwhelming desire for teachers not to flag on their efforts for the benefit of the students.

It is noteworthy that Mr Chigadzira’s epoch-making donation is a palpable godsend, in as much as it comes at an opportune time, when teachers are generally disillusioned countrywide, with morale at its lowest ebb, owing to a number of factors that are in the public domain.

Quite frankly, it is heart warming to realise that there are parents who place a high premium on teacher motivation, to the extent of making a personal sacrifice of that magnitude. The fact of the matter is that, in Manica Post’s political analyst-Shame Isak’s words, “Life has a way of rewarding those who excel” ring true.

It was last year that Mr Chigadzira pledged to donate the beast, if Rimbi teachers maintained their customary diligence and cachet of self –sacrifice. In deed, we did, and did so with style, whence the special donation. To Mr Chigadzirira’s utmost pleasure, Rimbi High School’s academic excellence was spiced by the success of his own daughter, Sharai, who performed beyond his expectations in last year’s ‘A’ Level examinations, and she is now a quality Midlands State University undergraduate. Mr Chigadzira, who is well disposed towards Rimbi High School, has two other daughters –Esther and Fadzai, at the school. As the school’s senior teacher for academic affairs, this writer is optimistic that they would take a leaf from their elder sibling’s book.

The much awaited slaughter of the beast occurred on Friday, 11 July 2014, after school. By common consent, much of the beef was shared among teachers, and a sizeable portion reserved for the humdinger of a celebratory party scheduled for the following day. As teachers skinned the beast and sliced the beef, they were already in party mode as they roasted chunks of meat to satisfy their appetites. Virtually, the teachers had started partying.

Saturday, 12 July 2014, was the day of the grand occasion. The school development committee provided other food stuffs to complement Mr Chigadzira’s donation and S.D.C Vice Chairperson, Mr Hally “Msdela” Chinaa, donated maize grain. Just before midday, teachers and invited guests were beginning to trickle into the school. As the catering staff, superintended by “Master chef” extraordinaire-Mr Chanya Chidida Masaiti, was still busy preparing food, people gathered for the inception of the extravaganza .Among the guest were Mr Chigadzira, who had been deservedly conferred with the Guest of Honour status, and his entourage, as well as local village Heads (the Mutapes)-Rimbi-Munyamana, Kamuti-Chitokonye,Manyezu and Tamanewako.

The S.D.C chairperson, Mr Douglas Mlambo-Chibhamu, noted that Mr Chigadzira gains the distinction of being the first individual to make such a donation, and had thrown his weight behind all stakeholders’ endeavours. He applauded Mr Chigadzira for raising teachers’ morale.

Much to the teachers’ delight, he pledged that the committee would explore ways of rewarding teachers who go the extra mile, such as the school’s 2013 best O level teacher, Mrs Perpetual Muchirinoza who produced forty-six ‘As’ in History, and improve conditions to retain the school’s high calibre teaching personnel.

The school head, Mr Phineas Mundeta, also expressed immense appreciation to Mr Chigadzira. He opined that it doesn’t take Solomonic wisdom to realise that it takes an inordinate amount of generosity to make such a donation, for which the school is eternally grateful. He went on to take the gathering through the school’s scholastic achievements that make Rimbi High an academic colossus among schools of similar circumstances. The head had the honour and privilege to parade recently won District Merit Awards-a fitting testimony of the school’s stellar performance.

The Guest of Honour, Mr Chigadzira, expressed his pleasure for the fulfilment of his pledge. He commended the school Head and his Deputy, Mrs Regina Macheke, for creating a conducive working atmosphere that allows members of staff to fully exert themselves and exhibit their full repertoire of skills, unlike some schools that are driven by disagreements and conflicts. He lauded teachers for quality results such as nine A’s scored by last year’s ‘O’ Level student.

Mr Chigadzira also pledged to purchase laptops for last year’s best ‘O’level and ‘A’level students- Sarudzai Manzana and Kudakwashe Mapwanya respectively. He made a passionate plea for the retention of the school head and improvement of school facilities.

In the same spirit, the S.D.C vice secretary, M Daniel Mwaripa, pledged a hundred and fifty kilograms of maize grain to the teachers. The announcement was greeted with thunderous applause from the appreciative crowd, most of whom were excited Rimbi High school members of staff.

All village Heads in the laudatory speeches, were lavish with praise for Mr Chigadzira. They were also profoundly grateful to the teachers, whose supreme efforts had been duly recognised by Mr Chigadzira.

In his vote of thanks, Mr Obey Mubuso hugely appreciated Mr Chigadzira’s donation. He noted that the donation leaves Rimbi High School members of staff highly motivated to be real go-getters. Thereafter, the feasting started and there was super abundance of food. In fact the function lived up to its billing in terms of glitz and glamour.

The writer is Rimbi High School senior Teacher for Academic Affairs and can be contacted on 0776 294 160.