Online Reporter
Mkhululi Ncube, Zimpapers Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa’s philosophy, “Ilizwe Lakhiwa Ngabanikazi Balo/Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo” (A nation is built by its own citizens), has found true fulfilment in Zamani Village, Lupane District, Matabeleland North Province, where the local community has united to build a new primary school.
Zamani Primary School, located in the St Pauls area, currently operates as an annex of Phunyuka Primary School, catering for learners from Early Childhood Development (ECD) up to Grade Four.
The school has one completed classroom block with two classrooms, while a second block is under construction and has reached window level.
Although the learning environment remains far from ideal — with grades sharing limited classroom space — school head Mr Mhlupheki Ncube remains optimistic about the future. He works from the only available office in the block, while two other teachers share a small staffroom cottage.
A family based in the diaspora, with a homestead nearby, has challenged the local community to contribute towards the school’s construction, pledging to match whatever is raised.
“The school was started in 2014, initially catering for ECD A and B to reduce the distance learners had to travel to Phunyuka Primary, which is nearly 15km away. It grew gradually, and around 2020, council approved the school project. The first teacher was deployed in 2022, and I joined in 2024,” said Mr Ncube.
He said the current priority is to complete the second classroom block to ease pressure on the existing facilities. The school also aims to secure registration with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
“Parents are contributing money to help build the school. For this new block, each parent contributed either a bag of cement or two buckets of millet, which we sold to buy. They also helped with sourcing building materials such as river sand and paid the builders. We are fortunate to have a nearby family based in the diaspora that consistently supports us, often matching or exceeding the community’s contributions cement,” said Mr Ncube.
Mr Ncube added that the family had also donated windows and doors for the new block, significantly accelerating progress.
While the arrangement has been effective, he appealed to well-wishers for additional support in the form of building and roofing materials to help complete the second block. He stressed the urgency of finishing the block by next year, as the school will be enrolling a new grade.
“The rains are upon us, and while I commend the community’s support, progress is slow. Next year, we will have Grade Five, which means we’ll need textbooks and furniture — both of which will be a challenge. I am appealing to well-wishers who can support our efforts by donating in cash or kind so that we can complete the block and begin work on another,” he said.
The school, at present, has an enrolment of 169 learners. However, progress is hindered by poverty in the community, which affects parents’ ability to contribute, despite their willingness.
Long distances to school remain a challenge in districts like Lupane, especially in the face of climate change. High temperatures make it difficult for learners to walk during the day across scorching Kalahari sands.
As a result, some learners drop out before completing their education, with girls particularly vulnerable to early marriage due to poverty-driven circumstances. — @themkhust.
