Obey Sibanda in Vumbachikwe
SEVERAL agricultural projects at Sabiwa Primary School are struggling to generate income for the institution because of an unreliable water supply, which is affecting irrigation and livestock rearing.
The school, located in Vumbachikwe, about 15 kilometres from Gwanda town in Matabeleland South Province, has an enrolment of 906 learners and a staff complement of 26 teachers, as well as five student teachers on attachment.
The area is characterised by dry conditions, making rain-fed agriculture difficult without supplementary irrigation, particularly during the drier months.
School headmistress Mrs Isabel Moyo said the school’s piggery, poultry projects and orchard were failing to reach their full commercial potential because of water shortages.
“The fruit plants in our orchard have failed to reach maturity and bear oranges, while we cannot keep the pigs clean and well-fed because we don’t have sufficient water. The school nutrition garden is also not doing well and the end result of that is our learners are not doing very well in agriculture in their Grade Seven examinations,” said Mrs Moyo.
Mrs Moyo was speaking while briefing delegates ahead of a handover ceremony of school fees for underprivileged learners by local miner and Zanu PF politician Cde Lungisani Costa Ncube.
