Peter Tanyanyiwa
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Herald Reporter
A MODERN Early Childhood Development (ECD) block worth US$109 257,73 that was built through contributions from parents and support from development partners was officially commissioned at Chiremba Primary School in Ruwa today, highlighting the growing role of community partnerships in expanding educational infrastructure.
The facility was officially opened by Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Senator Charles Tawengwa during a tour of key development projects in Ruwa, which also included visits to health institutions and other community facilities.
The new block is expected to accommodate about 100 learners and help ease congestion in classrooms while providing a more conducive learning environment for children in the school’s infant department.
Senator Tawengwa applauded the community for embracing the Government’s development agenda through collective action and partnerships.
“We are impressed by what the local board is doing because it is pro-people. Today we officially opened this ECD block, which will accommodate about 100 children and provide them with a suitable environment for learning,” he said.
“This project demonstrates the partnerships we continue to encourage, where communities, local authorities and industry work together to drive development in their local areas.”
Senator Tawengwa said such initiatives complement the Government’s efforts to improve access to education, healthcare and other essential services under the devolution and decentralisation programme.
“By decentralising services, the Government has afforded communities easier access to facilities within their own areas. Instead of travelling long distances to seek services, people are increasingly accessing them closer to home,” he said.
He reiterated the Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for private sector participation in national development.
“We invite the private sector to invest in various sectors so that together we provide services on behalf of the citizens of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Chiremba Primary School headmistress Mrs Monica Mlambo said the additional classrooms would address long-standing accommodation challenges caused by increasing enrolment.
“This block is going to alleviate the problem of accommodation. We previously had limited classroom space for our ECD learners, but the new facility will provide a more conducive learning environment for the infants,” she said.
She commended parents, development partners and stakeholders who contributed to the project, including the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service, which played a key role in supporting construction works.
Minister Tawengwa and his delegation also visited Ruwa Polyclinic, Damofalls Clinic and Aedan Private Hospital to assess progress in healthcare infrastructure development.
Senator Tawengwa welcomed progress at Damofalls Clinic, which has started partial operations and is already serving patients.
“We visited Damofalls Clinic, which we had inspected previously, and I am pleased that it is now partially operational and providing services to patients. We hope to officially open it once it is fully equipped,” he said.
He also praised investment in private healthcare after touring Aedan Private Hospital, saying private institutions play a vital complementary role in strengthening the country’s health delivery system.
“This privately-owned institution is providing important services and attracting patients from different parts of the country,” he said.
“Facilities such as these complement Government programmes and contribute to improved healthcare delivery.”
Ruwa Mayor Councillor Michael Mataruka said the successful completion of the ECD block reflected the benefits of collaboration between local authorities, residents and the private sector.
“Today is a special day for our local authority as we witness progress in both health and education infrastructure,” he said.
“At Chiremba Primary School, the community has delivered a world-class ECD block through working together.”
Councillor Mataruka said partnerships remained critical in improving service delivery and creating sustainable development opportunities for communities.
“We are working together — the council, private sector, schools and residents — and this cooperation is producing positive results,” he said.
The tour underscored the growing investment in Ruwa’s social infrastructure, with communities, local authorities, development partners and the Government working together to expand access to quality education and healthcare services.
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