Zimpapers Logo

Tawanda Marwizi Herald Correspondent
The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society in conjunction with Zimbabwe National Army engineers have come to the rescue of Muzarabani communities by constructing a footbridge that connects Nzoumvunda and Chadereka.

Speaking during a media tour last week, ZRCS secretary-general Maxwell Phiri said this was the organisation’s second intervention following the commissioning of a similar project in 2016.

“This is the second such intervention in Muzarabani district following a similar one commissioned in 2016. It is the entire Chadereka community which is usually affected during flooding periods,” he said.

Mr Phiri said children will have access to schools.

“With the footbridge done, it means children can still access school, community members have access to social amenities and lives are preserved,” he said.

He thanked ZNA for the commitment to make developmental projects in communities.

“The Ministry of Defence and the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society’s (ZRCS) parent ministry under the ZRCS Act of Parliament and together with the Red Cross are also members of the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) which deals with disasters hence the partnership. Their commitment to participate in this risk reduction programmes is welcome,” he said.

Finnish Red Cross-funded interventions by ZRCS in Muzarabani include the provision of safe water.

A solar-powered water system has been installed covering Chiwenga Primary School and Chiwenga Clinic

Finnish Red Cross delegate Kaisa Rouvinen said they were complementing the good work by ZRCS.

Meanwhile, villagers in Nekati communal lands under Chief Bepura in Guruve are asking for Government to intervene and build a bridge over Chourura River to enable scores of their children to attend school all year round.

Pupils in lower grades and Early Child Development (ECD) do not attend school for the greater part of the first term and only start attending lesson around April when the Chourura River would have subsided.

In an interview, village head Mr Jason Nekati said every year the river gives the villagers problems.

He said in many cases villagers had to help their children cross to school in the morning and in the afternoon, while at the peak of the rainy season the river becomes impassible.

“In the third term, depending on how quick the rains come, our children go or do not go to school.

But it is a sure case that during the first term our children do not attend school. Pupils in senior grades might go here and there but that will be on a few oc- casions

“The sure case is that all those in lower grades will not go. The river is always in flood and it poses a danger to the children,” he said.

Mr Nekati said a bridge or a satellite school would be more ideal.

“All we want is for our children to attend school all year round. The Government and well-wishers can help with either constructing of the bridge or establishing a satellite school.

As a community we are prepared to play our part either way,’’ said Mr Nekati.

He said avoiding the river makes the school 16 km away, a distance which no pupil can afford to travel and still attend lessons.

“Every parent here dreads to rainy season. It is the worst time for parents. You want to work in the fields yet at the same time, you are thinking of what time the children will have to cross the river.

At the height of the rains, you work with your children in the fields, knowing fully well that that their age mates are in school learning. You fear for the future of your child. You know you child might not pass. In fact it will be a miracle for your child to be in top 15 in school,’’ he said.