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Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Over 400 pupils at Kauzhumba Primary School in Mola area of Kariba District are learning in makeshift pole and grass structures and relieving themselves in nearby bushes after the school buildings collapsed eight years ago. Wrangling by traditional leaders and other stakeholders on whether to move the school to another site or build structures on the current location has paralysed reconstruction efforts.

Reasons for relocating the school have been that the soils on current location were weak. However, others contend that the current location was central, thereby ensuring that no pupils walk more than an average 4,5km distance to school.

Efforts to mobilise resources have been stalled after the realisation that the community differed on where the school should be built. In a letter written to local Member of Parliament Cde Isaac Mackenzie, district and Mashonaland West provincial leadership, some headmen in the area accused their colleagues of causing confusion.

The school is failing to develop due to the other four village heads who moved from their respective villages, said the the headmen in a petition. Among these village heads, three are pushing for moving the school to their site of interest, which the majority are against, therefore strengthening the tension of the conflict.

Kauzhumba area comprises six village heads including Chigwagwa, Siachitema, Lutope, Magwama, Dumbula and Masaba. District Administrator Mr Amigo Mhlanga confirmed the development.

There have been many well-wishers who have approached our offices intending to assist in the construction of the school but disagreements within the local community have been a stumbling block, he said. Of contention is the long distance from water sources and the proposed new school site and also its proximity to other schools including Marembera and Mayovhe.

The new site is almost close to the boundary of all villages with Marembera and Mayovhe, pushing the school close to Marembera and Mayovhe schools thereby defeating the purpose of constructing another school, reads the petition.

At least 340 of the nearly 500 pupils are enrolled at the school meaning some of them will have to walk up to 8km to school if the school is moved to the new site. Built in 1992, Kauzhumba Primary School collapsed in 2008 after developing cracks soon after construction with some attributing the collapse to weak soils while others alleged that no proper consultations with experts were made before it was built.