…sends
SOS to churches
SOS to churches
Brighton Chiseva
City
of Masvingo has failed to build a secondary school in the high density suburb
of Rujeko and is now set to put the land on sale to possible private buyers
with capacity to do the work.
of Masvingo has failed to build a secondary school in the high density suburb
of Rujeko and is now set to put the land on sale to possible private buyers
with capacity to do the work.
The
city has made several false promises regarding plans to build a secondary
school in the area, with candidates for the Ward 7 city council seat in many
elections promising to deliver on the project.
city has made several false promises regarding plans to build a secondary
school in the area, with candidates for the Ward 7 city council seat in many
elections promising to deliver on the project.
Indications
are that the secondary school project had been provided for in the 2019 council
budget but the local authority failed to commence the project ‘due to financial
challenges’.
are that the secondary school project had been provided for in the 2019 council
budget but the local authority failed to commence the project ‘due to financial
challenges’.
Council
has therefore decided to invite potential church organisations that may have
the capacity to do the work.
has therefore decided to invite potential church organisations that may have
the capacity to do the work.
It
was resolved in the recent full council meeting that the housing director should
advertise an institutional stand for the establishment of a secondary school in
Rujeko.
was resolved in the recent full council meeting that the housing director should
advertise an institutional stand for the establishment of a secondary school in
Rujeko.
Some
councillors, however, argued that the land should not be sold but be given for
free in return for council having some control of the school.
councillors, however, argued that the land should not be sold but be given for
free in return for council having some control of the school.
Ward
10 councillor Sengerayi Manyanga argued that if the land was to be sold, then
the responsible school authority may then seek to charge high fees to recover
the money used to buy the land.
10 councillor Sengerayi Manyanga argued that if the land was to be sold, then
the responsible school authority may then seek to charge high fees to recover
the money used to buy the land.
“Let’s
give the land for free so that we will be able to regulate the fees and other
services. If they start charging similar amounts to what boarding schools charge,
we would then be empowered to stop them,” said Manyanga.
give the land for free so that we will be able to regulate the fees and other
services. If they start charging similar amounts to what boarding schools charge,
we would then be empowered to stop them,” said Manyanga.
Mayor
Collen Maboke, however, said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will
regulate the fees and everything else to suit the normal standards expected of
a high density residential area school.
Collen Maboke, however, said the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education will
regulate the fees and everything else to suit the normal standards expected of
a high density residential area school.
Housing
and Community Services director Levison Nzvura said a lot had been taken into
consideration before the decision was made.
and Community Services director Levison Nzvura said a lot had been taken into
consideration before the decision was made.
“We
considered that council need some money to operate and since the project is of
community benefit, we decided to sell the land at half price to a church
organisation,” said Nzvura.
considered that council need some money to operate and since the project is of
community benefit, we decided to sell the land at half price to a church
organisation,” said Nzvura.
However,
many believe that council has diverted some of the money that was budgeted for
the project as they hurriedly try to surface the Nyaradzo Road whose own
budgeted funds they misappropriated.
many believe that council has diverted some of the money that was budgeted for
the project as they hurriedly try to surface the Nyaradzo Road whose own
budgeted funds they misappropriated.
