GOROMONZI – An almost abandoned school in Ward 20, Goromonzi South constituency, Mashonaland East Province has been saved from closure after a decade without any developments.
Glenroy Primary School, situated about 80km north east of Harare has no proper; teachers’ accommodation, toilet structures, as it has a single block constituting two classrooms that are shared amongst Grades one to seven since 2015.
The incoming member of Parliament in the area, Washington Zhanda presented bags of cement to kick start the construction of morden teacher’s accomodation and toilets to the school authorities and parents at a joyful ceremony over the weekend.
Health Ministry inspectors had notified the closure of the school over non-availability of proper toilets and clean running water.
“I promised to do my best then and requested for a bit of time to resolve the matter with the school authorities,” Goromonzi South Member of Parliament Washington Zhanda said.
Furthermore, “I have brought a ton of cement and my wife (Anna Zhanda a proportional representation councilor for Goromonzi Rural District Council) has topped up two bags, whilst our Ward 20 Councillor (Spiwe Musekiwa) also gave two more bags of cement”, Zhanda further said.
More over, “Let us unite in building this school. It belongs to our children from this ward. Let us emulate our President Baba Mnangagwa for his hard work in building Zimbabwe. I am following in his footsteps by sacrificing the resources I have to construct this school.
I have an open door policy and I am committed to deliver as the elected member of Parliament for this area.
“Do not be afraid. If you work with me, everything will be in place. You voted for me, so I must work”, added Zhanda.
The MP urged the parents to unite with Goromonzi Rural District Council to continue developing the school working with the government and to be part of this government initiative.
The MP, through the government’s computer program has donated 80 computers in his constituency and Glenroy got 20 computers but has no computer room which he pledge to assist with building materials.
Zhanda said he was working to make sure the infrastructure of the school is improved in the matra of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa of ‘Leaving no one and no place behind’.
The School headmistress, Josephine Bvekerwa says, two classes accommodates three classes at one time.
The school reportedly lost several teachers due to lack of infrastructure such as toilets and portable water.
Parents used to make make turns to provide water for the few teachers who are at the government owned institution.