UNDP low-cost boarding facilities to protect girl child

Jerry Chifamba

Government officially commissioned St Jude’s Mhazhe High School’s boarding facilities in Zhombe yesterday.

The National AIDS Council (NAC) built the facilities using funds from the United Nations Development Fund to shelter girls who were walking long distances to and from school.

“The construction of the boarding facilities that I have commissioned today underscores the people-centred and proactive efforts of the listening leadership of the Second Republic in leveraging on local initiatives and resources to address critical needs of communities.

“In this regard, the locally initiated boarding facilities, complete with boreholes, fencing, and solar electrification, marks a remarkable achievement,” said the Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube.

NAC Midlands Provincial National AIDS Council Manager, Mr Mambewu Shumba said the facilities are meant to protect the girl child from social ills.

“The girl child is vulnerable to domestic violence and sexual abuse. They are at the mercy of truck drivers and illegal miners. By providing them with such facilities, we are also protecting them from the scourge of sexually transmitted diseases,” said Mr Shumba.

The initiative is yielding spin-off advantages that the students and parents are already enjoying.

“As students, we are very excited to be housed at such facilities. We used to walk long distances coming to and from school and this used to affect our performance. We are happy with our new environment,” said one student.

Government is also thrilled about the progress, which feeds into the country’s blueprint, the National Development Strategy 1.