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Midlands Bureau Chief
The Lotteries and Gaming Board has donated two classroom blocks to Chikutubwe Secondary School in Chiwundura, as it spearheads infrastructure development to assist pupils in underdeveloped rural communities.

Addressing villagers, pupils and Government officials during a recent handover of the donation, Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Melusi Matshiya said the Lotteries and Gaming Board was investing in education infrastructure because education was not a privilege, but a right for every Zimbabwean child.

“The Lotteries and Gaming Board was established by Government to spearhead infrastructure development at schools, especially in rural communities that cannot afford the construction of blocks by their own means,” he said.

Mr Matshiya said the State must adopt reasonable policies and measures within the limits of resources available to it to ensure that children have access to appropriate education and training.

“It is a cardinal way of empowerment that was well thought out by the legislature on the promulgation of the Lotteries and Gaming Act a long time ago, establishing the Lotteries and Gaming Fund with a specific provision for money to finance education,” he said.

“The feeling is good in society when children are educated. There is an atmosphere of progress and general sense of well-being and harmony. Mind you we live in a world of technological advancement and it all begins at school.” Mr Matshiya said it was incumbent that members of society assist Government in putting in place learning facilities such as classrooms to provide and good environment for pupils to get education.

He said the board was playing a big contribution in the economy and is currently running 22 projects countrywide.

“It is only recent that I commissioned a similar classroom block at St John’s Chifamba Primary School in Buhera, Manicaland Province, where classrooms were inadequate for the school enrolment just like here at Chikutubwe Secondary School,” said Mr Matshiya.

“On the same day I commissioned a heavy duty 80 KVA electricity generator at Nyashanu High School also in Buhera courtesy of Lotteries and Gaming Fund.”

“As such we shall be commissioning several classroom blocks already built right from Zambezi to Limpopo such as at St Michael Mbizha Primary School in Hwange, Matabeleland North Province that is due in a few weeks time.”

Mr Matshiya said there were several law abiding licensees nationwide that operate lotteries and gaming enterprises, adding that those who plough back to the community are the most respected.