adminProsper Ndlovu Chronicle Reporter
DOZENS of pupils in Bubi District conduct lessons in the open where they are forced to lie on their stomachs to write school work, area MP Cde Clifford Sibanda has said. Addressing a gathering of top government officials and villagers during the launch of the Bubi District Community Share Ownership Trust/Scheme at Inyathi growth point on Friday, Cde Sibanda said inadequate infrastructure was a serious problem in Bubi.
This is despite the fact that the district is one of the richest in Matabeleland North – being home to big gold mines and prime farming land.
“Bubi District needs 22 new primary schools, seven secondary schools and three high schools. It’s high time mining companies stopped thinking of the government as a barrier to their work and respond to the plight of communities they operate in,” said Cde Sibanda.
“Right now big mining firms here can’t employ geologists, let alone clerks because not even a single person here has those qualifications. Bubi doesn’t have schools to produce the people you need.
“Pupils lie on their stomachs to write school work. Sand is their black board and ink is their fingers. It’s so pathetic especially during this cold winter season. We can go all over and the situation is so bad.”
Poor infrastructure in schools coupled with shortage of qualified teachers have been blamed for low pass rates in the entire Matabeleland region.
The district share scheme, chaired by Chief Mtshane Khumalo, received $70,000 from Casmyn and small scale miners – a drop in the ocean out of a possible $4 million pledged by qualifying firms.
President Robert Mugabe launched the $10 million Matabeleland North CSOT/S in 2012.
No progress has been made on the programme for the past three years save for Umguza District, which received $1,5 million from Pretoria Portland Cement (PPC).
Under the indigenisation regulations, communities are entitled to 10 percent shares from companies that exploit natural resources in their areas.
Cde Sibanda challenged participating firms —Casmyn, Duration Gold, Isabella, Umviga and small scale miners – to fulfil their pledges to fast track development in the district.
Districts such as Gwanda and Shurugwi are already enjoying development progress using proceeds from their share schemes.
Speaking at the same occasion, Matabeleland North provincial youth development officer, Buthumuzi Ngwenya, said it was ironic that the Bulawayo-Nkayi Road was in a deplorable state despite passing through gold-rich Bubi District.
The widening of the road has been in limbo for decades with only 46km successfully tarred.
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