Chronicle Editor
Online writer
This weekend, Thekwane High celebrates 100 years of existence.
Below is a newspaper article published in The Chronicle in 1984 when the institution celebrated 60 years:
THEKWANE High School, located outside Plumtree, celebrated its 60th birthday yesterday amid scenes of pageantry and jubilation.
The day also coincided with the school’s prize-giving day.
The principal of the school, Cde Luke Khumalo said the school is celebrating former pupils including President Banana, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Cde Eddison Zvobgo and the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa said the school was established on the 12th of May 1924.
“The school progressed quickly and in the year 1930, a teachers’ training college was instituted followed by a secondary school in 1951. Then culminating in the establishment of Advanced Level classes in 1968.
In a speech read on his behalf by his wife Angelina Ndlovu, The Minister of Mines Cde Callistus Ndlovu said there was no place in business, in Government or anywhere else in Zimbabwe where there was по former student of Thekwane.
“There was no doubt that the school had been one of the greatest training institutions in the country, It’s former students are in the Cabinet of this country Some are senior civil servants Others are leaders in commerce and industry,” the Minister said.
The Minister said the present situation at Thekwane was not very comfortable as the school was forced to close down in 1978 because of the dangerous security situation in the area.
“During this period up to the end of the war, buildings were vandalized and a great deal of property was destroyed,” he said.
“When the school was reopened in 1981, the place was in a terrible state and I was told that the church, the staff and the Ministry of Education had tried their best to rehabilitate the school but it did not receive sufficient aid to recover from the pillage and destruction of the war,” Khumalo said
Cde Khumalo said Thekwane High School had a complement of 16 teachers and an enrolment of 502 boys and girls. Despite the fact that it was short-staffed the school was making great strides.
“In the past we have had very good Ordinary and Advanced Level results, with in some cases all Advanced Level students qualifying to enter university,” he said.
Online Reporter