Zimpapers Logo

Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Government will not allow schools to offer Cambridge examinations to the exclusion of the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council, Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Paul Mavhima has said.
He stressed that all schools were obliged to offer Zimsec examinations and any other examination body would be given as an option.
Deputy Minister Mavhima said this in the National Assembly yesterday while responding to a question from Harare West MP Ms Jessie Majome (MDC-T), who had asked why Government was depriving pupils of their right to education by denying them the opportunity to write Cambridge exams.

“Our policy is that every school in Zimbabwe should offer Zimsec exams. If they want to offer pupils other examinations they can do that but they should abide by this provision,” Deputy Minister Mavhima said.

Responding to a question on the banning of extra lessons, he said teachers had developed a tendency not to teach during normal time hoping to cash in on extra lessons.
Meanwhile, Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa, said Government was working tirelessly to revive closed mines across the country, with the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation having been mandated to do that.

Some of the mines include Kamativi, Shabani Mashava Mine, Copper Queen, Mhangura, Sabi Gold and Elvington, among others.
He said the previous ZMDC board had not handled well prospective investors who wanted to put money into such mines as Kamativi.

Responding to another question, Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Deputy Minister, Biggie Matiza said his ministry was investigating allegations that a treasurer with Chaminuka Rural District Council had misappropriated US$200 000 disbursed by the Zimbabwe National Road Administration for road maintenance.

Deputy Minister Matiza said the provincial administrator and his ministry were already seized with the matter.
He was responding to a question from St Mary’s MP, Mr Unganai Tarusenga, who wanted to know what the ministry was doing about the issue.
But Southerton MP, Mr Gift Chimanikire (MDC-T), castigated him for failing to tell the House pertinent information on whether the treasurer was arrested or was still in office.

“He admits that there was a treasurer who failed to account for US$200 000. Nowhere does he mention that he was arrested or whether he is in office,” said Mr Chimanikire.

Deputy Minister Matiza said investigations were still underway to establish the credibility of the allegations.