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Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau

People in Nyatsato Village in Rushinga, close to the border with Mozambique, have clearly embraced President Mnangagwa’s mantra that a country is developed by its own people through mobilising resources to construct Nyatsato Secondary School.

The school has become a huge relief mostly to girls, helping them complete secondary education and exposing them to better opportunities.

The initiative by the community reduced long distances travelled by learners from villages along the border line to the nearest school, which exceed 15 kilometres.

Rushinga Rural District Council and the Member of Parliament for Rushinga Cde Tendai Nyabani, who were impressed by the determination, chipped in with money from the devolution fund and the constituency development fund.

Marginalised communities face challenges in accessing quality and inclusive education and the Government has deployed a number of strategies, including the devolution agenda, to propel rural development.

In Nyamakoronga, Nyagwiti, Maparepare and other villages close to the border with Mozambique, children wake up as early as 4am to make it to school on time.

In most cases, they will be tired when they get to the school or are sent for punishment for coming late.

Claricy Muzota, who is in Form 4, now travels a distance of six kilometres to get to the new Nyatsato Secondary School when she used to attend Makuni Secondary School which is approximately 12 kilometres away.

Claricy, who did her Form 1 and 2 at Makuni Secondary School, said it was difficult for her to concentrate on her studies due to fatigue of walking the long distance.

“I am hopeful of passing my Ordinary Level examinations and I want to train as a teacher,” she said.

“The distance I am travelling now is still long, although shorter than before, but I will persevere because I believe education is my key to a better life.

“Education is a crucial element in the development of a society and the country.”

Rudaviro Kanyama who is in Form Two, said Makuni Secondary School was closer to her village, but she transferred to newly built Nyatsato Secondary School due to its better standards.

“We have girls from villages which are further away who have dropped out of school due to the long distances,” she said.

“Learners coming from the border line are dismissed from school early to enable them to get home before it’s dark.”

Ashibia Chipamurandu from William Village, close to the border line, said life was difficult especially during winter, when they used to walk the long distance to school, but they had been relieved by the coming on line of Nyatsato Secondary School.

“After walking such a long distance to school I would get into the classroom unable to hold a pen due to frostbites during winter,” he said.

“I am very excited that this new school has made our lives better.”

Nyatsato school development committee chairperson Mr Ronny Makaza said they started construction in 2019 after the community moulded bricks and gathered stones and sand.

“The idea was mooted in 2012 after realising that the long distances to school was causing challenges,” he said.

“Parents volunteered to mobilise bricks and other locally available building materials. We managed to construct one block with two classrooms and a teacher’s house.

“We were able to complete this block through the devolution fund which provided roofing material, doors and windows. We thank the Government for the support. Although we took it upon ourselves to meet the Government halfway, we didn’t have all the resources.

“Since we only have two classrooms, some of our learners are still using pole and grass sheds as makeshift classrooms.

“We are coming together again as a community to provide bricks, stones, sand and labour and we are appealing to the Government and well-wishers to continue supporting us.”

Mukosa and Chitepo secondary schools are some of the schools constructed in this area since the advent of the new dispensation.

Cde Nyabani said they had plans to construct another school at Nyabawa where children were traveling 17 kilometres to Mukosa or 27 kilometres to Chapinduka for their secondary education.

“At Nyatsato, we have children coming from Maparepare,” he said.

“We had learners arriving at school at break time and leaving early so that they arrive home on time.

“We also thank the Government for availing adequate teachers in Rushinga. Also our youths who were trained as teachers are given the opportunity to teach in their communities.

“At Nyatsato, some children are still learning in makeshift structures since it’s a new school. I am expecting supplementary CDF and I will channel the money towards a second block.

“We will liaise with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to turn some of our schools, especially Rushinga High School, into low-cost boarding schools to curb the case of “bush boarders” which is exposing the girl child to abuse.”