School scores a first

Luthando Mapepa
MADZIWA Secondary School, one of the schools located in an isolated area of Chipinge, has embraced new technology by setting up a solar-powered computer laboratory.Located about 15km from Chipinge town along Chipinge-Jersey road, the school has scored a first in the country by installing a ZUBA box that is used to power its laboratory.

The school, which opened its doors in 2000 at the beginning of the fast-track land reform programme, was meant to cater for newly resettled farmers’ children who were enduring long distances of about 10km to attend school.

The name ZUBA is a Zambian word for ‘‘the sun’’, zuva in Shona.

The idea of setting up a solar-powered computer laboratory was the brainchild of the Zambia government to bridge the gap between rural dwellers and their urban counterparts, but the project did not yield anything up to now since they are still to implement it.

The project was funded by UNESCO in conjunction with Computer Aid International and cost about British £26 000.

When The Manica Post visited the school last week it was business as usual with computer studies students winding up their projects ahead of the November examinations.

In an interview, the school computers’ teacher, Mrs Qelani Jiho, said they started as a small school with an enrolment of less than 150 students.

She said the setting up of the solar- powered computer laboratory had helped them to attract more students.

“We are now a bigger school compared to the early years where we used to enrol less than 150 students. In short our enrolment has doubled since we took delivery of the ZUBA box. The number is expected to double next year.

“The box is easy to operate. It is used on a daily basis since it is a solar-powered system. There is no problem of power cuts because sunlight is always there.

“Our staff members have undertaken computer lessons and everyone is now able to use computers. We are now able to print our own examination papers, something which we never dreamt of before. This ZUBA box is ideal for a rural schools because our staff members and students are now part of the global technology,” she said.

The ZUBA box has a long life span and its batteries can operate from 9 to 10 hours after being fully charged.

Out of the 18 students who were doing computer studies at the school, only eight managed to pay examination fees.

The project co-ordinator, Mr Innocent Chademana, said the project has the potential to transform lives in rural areas.

He urged the Government to embrace renewable sources of energy.

“Government has donated computers to various schools around the country, but what boggles the mind is that these computers are lying idle because of lack of electricity. Computers are devices which need a lot of power to operate and this is a very big challenge for schools which have no access to power. We are urging the corporate world to come on board and fund the establishment of this solar-powered system that is cost effective,” he said.

Dr Themba Ndlovu, who is the acting director of UNESCO’s Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet), which is running under the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, said there was need for installing similar boxes across the country.

“There is need to build small cost-effective ZUBA boxes across the country to ensure power supplies to marginalised communities in the country,” he said.