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George Maponga in Masvingo
Over 3 000 families displaced by Tugwi-Mukosi floods have received a shot in the arm from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund for International Development that has undertaken to construct two schools at Chingwizi.

Construction of Nyuni Primary and Secondary schools by OPEC will see hundreds of school children at Chingwizi conducting classes in permanent structures as some of them are currently learning either in makeshift structures or under trees.

OPEC is building the schools at Chingwizi under its programme to support poverty alleviation in the country’s three most poorly-developed provinces. Masvingo provincial education director Mr Zedius Chitiga yesterday said work on the two schools had already started in a major boon for the Chingwizi community.

“We are going to have a new primary and secondary school at Chingwizi that is being constructed with funding from OPEC and work has already started,’’ said Mr Chitiga.

He said the development was a major milestone in ongoing efforts to bring normalcy in the lives of flood victims at Chingwizi.

“I am pleased with these developments as schools infrastructure development is one of the pillars of the new curriculum,” he said.

Mr Chitiga revealed that plans were at an advanced stage to build five other schools across the province through joint ventures.

The schools were Mpandawana Secondary in Gutu, Bangala Primary in Nyikavanhu, Jerera Primary in Zaka, Takunda Primary and Muleme Primary in Mwenezi.

“Private companies have joined hands with other stakeholders in these areas and raised money to build these new schools as part of efforts improve lives of people in these communities,’’ said Mr Chitiga.

Zimbabwe received close to $20 million from OPEC that will be used to build 20 new schools countrywide.