adminPRESIDENT Mugabe last week donated furniture to Mathabiswana Primary School in Umguza district, Matabeleland North Province.
Speaking during the handover ceremony of the 50 combo desk benches at the Seventh Day Adventist-run school on Thursday, Industry and Commerce Minister Cde Mike Bimha said the gesture by President Mugabe was a clear indication of his appreciation of the region where he first practised his profession as a teacher as well as his unselective approach to his people.
“The President was given this furniture by one company which was exhibiting at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair last year and he decided to have it donated to a school in need in this region.
“Of course it is here where he cut his teeth as a teacher. If he had his own way, he would have donated this furniture at his home land in Kutama but chose not to, largely because he is not a selfish leader,” Minister Bimha said.
President Mugabe taught at Hope Foundation and Empandeni Mission in Matabeleland South Province.
The school’s head, Mr Nkululeko Ndlovu, said the donation by President Mugabe would go a long way towards improving the learning environment of the pupils at the school.
“We were facing a big challenge with regards to the shortage of furniture. The situation was so bad that you would find eight pupils cramped in one bench, which can only accommodate five.
“So this donation will go a long way towards improving the pupils’ seating arrangement and hopefully the pass rate will improve since the learning environment will now be conducive,” he said.
Matabeleland North provincial education director Mrs Boithatelo Mnguni said there was a severe shortage of furniture at most rural schools in the province, citing it as one of the factors which contributed to poor performance in national examinations.
Online Reporter