Staff Reporter

BUHERA – In a significant stride towards educational modernization, RCZ-run Makumbe High School in Buhera officially commissioned a new state-of-the-art classroom block and two new vehicles, a Toyota D4D double cab and a kombi, during a combined ceremony held on October 4, coinciding with the schools annual Speech and Prize Giving Day.

The event highlighted the Reformed Church in Zimbabwe’s sustained commitment to upgrading both infrastructure and resources across its educational institutions.

Speaking during the commissioning, RCZ Education Secretary Dr. Witmos Mutumburanzou acknowledged that while many church-established schools still operated with older infrastructure, there was a clear vision to replace them with modern facilities suited to contemporary learning needs.

“We have old infrastructure, but we have a vision to have new infrastructure that answers to the 21st century like the one we are going to see here. We are running with that vision, and we are happy that we have support from our stakeholders,” said Dr. Mutumburanzou.

He further revealed that the church was also prioritizing the integration of digital learning tools, such as interactive boards, into the classroom environment. While noting that several RCZ schools had already begun this transition, he admitted that the full potential of digital education had not yet been realized across the board.

Dr. Mutumburanzou also took the opportunity to commend Makumbe High for its outstanding academic performance, disclosing that he had set the school a target of an 80% pass rate at O-Level and 96% at A-Level targets which the school not only met but exceeded.

Echoing the same sentiments, RCZ Moderator Reverend Dr Ezekiel Baloyi praised the teaching staff for their dedication and results. He particularly highlighted that several teachers were producing more than 100 A grades collectively and stressed the need for more teachers to follow suit so as to maintain and build upon this success.

“I heard there is a teacher who produced more than 100 As here, that is good, however, we need to make sure that it’s not one. Many teachers should have the same results,” said Rev Dr Baloyi.

The School Development Committee Chairperson Evelyne Chipadza said the school had ongoing projects set to be commissioned as well once completed while they have others on cards.

“We have ongoing projects that is renovations of both boys and girls hostels as well as the installation of tower lights in the hostel areas. We also have future plans. We intend to expand the poultry project to commercial level, install solar geysers as well as expanding the garden and do cattle fattening,” said Chipadza.

The newly commissioned block is expected to alleviate classroom overcrowding and provide a more conducive learning environment, while the addition of the Toyota D4D and kombi will bolster transport logistics for both academic and agricultural activities the latter being a growing strength of the school, as evidenced by its thriving farm projects.

The event was attended by local MP Tafadzwa Mugwadi, who gave cash prizes to best perfomers per grade,  church officials, representatives from sister schools, and community members, all witnessing firsthand the church’s deliberate investment in creating a holistic and forward-looking learning environment.

By Staff Reporter                                             

Mupandawana High School held its much-anticipated Speech and Prize Giving Day on October 8, transforming the school yard into a vibrant celebration of learner achievement across both academic and non-academic domains.

The event saw learners recognized for outstanding performance in their respective subjects at every grade level, with prizes ranging from essential stationery to school satchels and other educational materials.

In a demonstration of the school’s commitment to holistic education, the ceremony also celebrated excellence beyond the classroom. Students

Learners who distinguished themselves in sports and co-curricular activities received accolades tailored to their disciplines, members of the award-winning drummer majorettes’ learner was presented with new boots, talented soccer players received football boots, and promising tennis players were gifted rackets.

Addressing attendees during the celebratory event, School Head Tranos Mbwirire emphasized that the occasion represented more than just an annual ritual.

“This is a moment of reflection and celebration to recognize the hard work of our learners, the dedication of our teachers, the unwavering support of parents, and the generous contributions of our partners,” said Mbwirire.

The event ran under the theme ‘Unleashing Learner Potential Through Heritage-Based Curriculum’.

“The theme speaks to the identity of our school. While we strive to prepare learners for the future, we remain deeply rooted in cultural values and heritage. Heritage connects us to those who were here before us and it grounds us in who we are,” said Mbwirire.

The school head further explained that unleashing learner potential meant embracing ICT, problem-solving, entrepreneurship, and adaptability to equip students for the modern world.

“We remain focused on inclusive education, social justice, integration of technology, and the need for resilience in our educational approach,” said Mbwirire.

With a population of 1,000 learners, 45 teaching staff, and 6 non-teaching staff, Mupandawan High has established itself as an institution dedicated to comprehensive education.

“Our commitment is to lecture practical skills alongside academic knowledge to produce a graduate who can stand tall anywhere in the world,” he said.

The event culminated in the presentation of awards to top performers across various disciplines, with beaming students stepping forward to receive their honors as proud parents and teachers looked on.

The ceremony not only celebrated current achievements but also reinforced the school’s vision of developing well-rounded individuals equipped to navigate both global opportunities and their cultural heritage.

By Staff Reporter

Gutu – Mupandawana High School has taken a significant leap in science education with the recent commissioning of a fully-equipped science block, providing both Ordinary and Advanced Level students with modern facilities for practical lessons and experiments.

The state-of-the-art laboratory features all necessary requirements for comprehensive science education, including functional sinks, gas connections, running water, and secure chemical storage facilities, creating an enabling environment for hands-on learning.

Speaking during the official opening ceremony, which coincided with the school’s Speech and Prize-Giving Day, Guest of Honour and Gutu Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer, Alexander Mutembwa, expressed honor in officiating at an institution that has established itself as a beacon of academic excellence, innovation, and cultural development.

Mutembwa particularly commended the school’s exceptional discipline, drawing a stark comparison with other institutions.

“I recently attended a function at another school in Gutu where the head was continuously occupied with telling learners to keep quiet and sit down. Here at Mupandawana, we can clearly see that learners are naturally disciplined and well-behaved,” he observed.

The CEO also praised the school’s commitment to infrastructural development, as demonstrated by the construction of the modern science block. However, he urged the school administration to consider vertical expansion as a sustainable growth strategy.

“Given the rapid development pace at Mupandawana, I encourage the adoption of upward building designs to optimize land use and prevent future space constraints,” said Mutembwa.

School Head Tranos Mbwirire, described the commissioning as a milestone in the institution’s journey toward educational excellence.

“The opening of this science block represents the great strides we are making in infrastructure development, aligned with our vision to provide top-class education and become the district’s leading day school, committed to producing well-rounded learners excelling in all facets of life,”said Mbwirire.

Mbwirire attributed the school’s success to a culture of “teamwork, hard work, innovation, open-door policy, strategic collaborations, and an unrelenting desire to be the best.” Looking ahead, he revealed plans to expand the school’s ICT capabilities following the completion of the science facility.

Notably, despite being situated just meters from Mupandawana Growth Point and the bustling taxi rank, areas known for prevalent drug and substance abuse, the school has maintained a remarkably clean record. Mbwirire affirmed, highlighting the school’s success in creating a protective learning environment amidst challenging surroundings.

“While the nation grapples with drug abuse, we have recorded very few cases, all of which have been decisively addressed. The situation is now well under control,” he said.

By Ndinatsei Mavodza                                                                    

One cannot speak of Nyashanu High School without recalling the devastating fire that engulfed one of its girls’ hostels in June last year, a story that made headlines and left parents shocked and fearing for the safety of their children.

Today, the school has not only recovered but has redefined resilience, transforming tragedy into a catalyst for modernization.

The school head Jackson Dunatuna recounted the sad incident, emphasizing the crucial role of community support in the school’s rapid recovery.

“The hostel that burned housed 102 girls. It was devastating, and thankfully, no lives were lost, though learners lost several belongings. Through immense support from former students, stakeholders, and the Buhera District Rural Council, we were able to rapidly rebuild and revamp it into the modern facility you see now,” said Dunatuna

The reconstruction has been completed at an impressive pace, and in a twist of fate, the disaster forced the school to rebuild in a modern way, ultimately proving to be a blessing.

The new block now offers a safer, more comfortable, and contemporary living environment for learners, ensuring their welfare and enabling them to focus on learning without disruption.

Beyond this flagship project, the school is on an aggressive drive to refurbish other buildings. Both girls’ and boys’ hostels are being upgraded with new tiling, repainting, partitioning, and general renovations.

When TellZim News crew visited the school recently work was in progress with tillers and painters on the ground.

The wave of improvement extends to classrooms, which were undergoing massive renovations. They were being repainted, rebuilt, and having their worn cement floors replaced with new tiles, creating brighter and more comfortable spaces for learning.

The school’s Memorial Library was also being renovated to provide a modern and inviting area for students to read and study.

In a major step toward energy independence, Nyashanu High installed a 48KV solar system in 2024, covering the entire learning and boarding area. Headmaster Dunatuna emphasized the system’s reliability, saying they one could not tell if there was Zesa power or not.

“If you get here, you will not be able to tell if we have grid electricity or not. Our learners have lighting and can use mobile gadgets for Wi-Fi and smart board learning anytime, without interruption from ZESA power cuts,” said Dunatuna.

Beyond infrastructure, the school boasts a vibrant range of extracurricular activities, including quizzes and sports like basketball, soccer, volleyball, and handball.

A look in the school’s trophy cabinet confirms its status as a sporting force. The under-15 soccer team recently competed at the provincial level, reaching the quarterfinals, while two girls from the under-20 volleyball team have been selected for national competitions.

With these ongoing developments and student successes, Nyashanu High is confidently positioned to continue excelling academically and in extracurricular activities, a momentum that will be showcased when it hosts the inter-Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) school’s athletic competitions in 2026.