Solar power transforms Dombo Pry School

DOMBO Primary School in Ward 15 of Gwanda South has begun reaping the benefits of a donated 5kv solar system, which is providing reliable electricity and improved access to water, paving the way for a brighter future for learners.

The projects, funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives through the Edward Ndlovu Memorial Trust and Unicef, have transformed service delivery at the institution.

Not only have the projects improved outcomes for both pupils and teachers, but they have also delivered much needed cost efficiencies for the school, among other benefits.

Despite challenges posed by external factors such as drought, which affected enrolment levels, the school has recorded an increase in its pass rate, attributing the improvement to the availability of water and electricity.

Dombo Primary School head, Mr Tsepiso Kulube, said the institution had been transformed into an urban standard facility despite its rural location.

“We appreciate the initiatives being done by the Edward Ndlovu Memorial Trust and Unicef, we have been struggling for a long time due to shortage of water and electricity at the school but our struggle is over. Children used to spend a lot of time trying to fetch water from the stream for watering the school garden and orchard. We now spend a lot of time in the classes due to the availability of water,” he said.

Mr Kulube said the school had observed a significant impact of digital learning on student motivation.
“The introduction of solar power has significantly enhanced ICT accessibility and our students are no longer lagging behind. Thus, we have seen a rise in our pass rate from 38 percent to 57 percent in 2025. We are now one of the institutions that will not record any cholera cases when there is an outbreak. Water is nearby and we wash our hands always after using the toilet.”

He added that the solar powered irrigation system would boost the school’s capacity to provide vegetables for its feeding programme.

“We’re now able to water our plants, we also wish to dwell more into vegetables so that we will be able to support the Government’s school feeding programme on a daily bases. We get mealie-meal from the Government hence we need to work on ways feed students,” he said.