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Talent Chimutambgi recently in Chikombedzi
The Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) has helped diffuse misconceptions about the army by identifying themselves with the people through embarking on a number of projects in various communities as part of their peacetime mandate.
Annually, the ZDF hands over completed projects and conducts free medical services with the thrust of extending a helping hand to communities as part of its secondary role of assisting communities. In light of this, the ZDF constructed a classroom block at Gurungweni Secondary School in Chikombedzi, Chiredzi to augment learning infrastructure to the newly established institution.
The block was named after the late Major-General Trust Mugoba, who was instrumental in mobilising resources for the vision. The initiative was a collective effort of the FBC Building Society and artisans from ZDF, as well as the devolution funds and villagers.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church-related Gurungweni Secondary School was established as part of efforts to rescue local pupils from walking long distances to access secondary education.
The ZDF constructed the new block and renovated four existing ones. The facelift involved tiling, painting and new roofs.
The star project was in conformity with President Mnangagwa’s clarion call of “leaving no place and no one behind”.
Pupils were traveling more than 20km to the nearby schools – Muhlanguleni Secondary School and Alpha Mupapa High School, as well as Magijima.
After construction of the new block and renovation of the other blocks, Gurungweni Secondary School is expected to accommodate pupils from 40 villages in the catchment area.
The school, which in Chiredzi South, commenced lessons in 2019 with Form One classes.
The new developments at the school were commissioned by Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri represented by Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Masvingo Province Ezra Chadzamira.
The ZDF medical team was providing free medical services to the local community at Gurungweni Clinic.
Thousands of locals received free medical services and different ailments were treated.
Commander Defence Forces General Phillip Valerio Sibanda toured the stand where ZDF members were providing free medical services accompanied by Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe (AFZ) Air Marshal Elson Moyo, Chief of Staff General Staff, Major-General Kasirai Tazira, Commander 4 Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Ephias Mahachi, Director ZDF Nursing Services Colonel Dr Tendai Makuyana and senior ZDF officers.
Gen Sibanda spoke to the various patients who received health services .
In a speech read on his behalf by Cde Chadzamira, Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the initiative would bring the country’s national developmental goals into fruition.
She said the construction of the classroom block would alleviate challenges of accessing education in the area.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the project was consistent with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the ZDF.
“The successful completion of this project is consistent with His Excellency President and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa’s vision 2030 of creating a knowledge-driven economy for sustained growth, industrialisation and modernisation of Zimbabwe,” she said.
“The construction of a new classroom block provides additional space to accommodate more students and in the process cut down on numbers travelling long distance to access secondary education which has been the case up to now. This approach of building schools close to communities they serve in tandem with President Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no place and no one behind.”
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the initiative was complementing Education 5.0 adopted by the country to churn out students capable of industrial transformation.
“We in the ZDF, place a lot of value on investing in education as it lays a solid foundation for the youths to transform themselves into better people for their families, communities, for our defence forces and country,” she said.
“It is, therefore, important to equip the youths with requisite competencies in line with the dictates of Education 5.0 which is centred on use of technology to improve the standards of life in the society.
“This project is indeed one of the building blocks in promoting a conduce teaching and learning environment. Following the clarion call by President Mnangagwa of an Upper Middle Class Economy by 2030, education is the key enabler towards the attainment of this vision.”
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said it was at the heart of Government to ensure the provision of basic amenities to all communities.
“I want to emphasize that the Government, in it’s endeavour to ensure access to quality education for all, will not rest, but will continue to reach out to all communities through the provision of schools and other social amenities,” she said.
“It is pleasing to note that the ZDF are committed in complementing Government as it rolls out various programmes aimed at uplifting people’s lives.”
Brig-Gen Mahachi paid tribute to Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri for according a higher status to the project.
“I want to thank the Minister of Defence and War Veterans Affairs Min Muchinguri-Kashiri for choosing this project to be a star project,” he said. “We also want to thank the members of the ZDF, the FBC Building Society Bank and the villagers for the collective efforts to make the project a possibility.”
Online Reporter