Ndarama High School Head Shirley Makausi in a well-equipped Food Technology and Design classroom

Moses Ziyambi

For many people, leadership merely entails being in front of others and giving instructions to subordinates, but for Ndarama Government High School head Shirley Makausi, it means much more than that; it means doing things right and setting a precedent.
Within a relatively short period of time, Ndarama High School has become the best government day school in Masvingo province in terms of everything; the quality of learning facilities, cleanliness of surroundings and, most importantly, the quality of academic results.
Makausi became Ndarama High School head in February 2004, when the school had just introduced its first ‘A’ Level class. At that time, public perception of the school was dismal, with classes being difficult to fill as parents opted to send their children to other schools with higher rankings.
In a major turn of the trend, Ndarama High now practices hot-sitting as a way of accommodating the hundreds of children who have been fortunate to get a place at the school.
The public school had never managed even a 20 percent pass rate at ‘O’ Level since at least 1998, when the pass rate fluctuated between eight and 18 percent.
With determination combined with the requisite charisma, Makausi managed to turn things around and made Ndarama High a first choice school even for those who had hitherto juxtaposed government schools with degradation of standards, indiscipline, poor academic results and general decay.
Ndarama High School now boasts a stunning appearance often synonymous with well-heeled private schools only; an attractive aura which extends to an excellent learning environment and culminates in rising academic outcomes.
The school, despite practicing hot-sitting, recorded a 76.25 percent pass rate for its 2016 ‘O’ Level class, an astronomical rise from the around 15 percent when Makausi took over in 2004.
Now, in a society which knows more headmasters than headmistresses, and in a field where celebrated achievements seem to accrue more from the male than female effort, it would be an error of omission to ignore the distinguished work that has been done at Ndarama High School.
Makausi went to Usher Secondary School in Bulawayo, St David’s Bonda High School before proceeding to university where she acquired her teaching qualifications.
Since then, she amassed vast teaching experience over the years, having taught at St Anthony’s Musiso High School in Zaka from 1980 to 1983 before moving to Christian High School in Masvingo.
Between 1996 and 1997, Makausi was acting deputy head at Victoria High School before becoming Chirichoga Secondary School head from 1997 to 2004.
Though she acknowledges that the education sector, like any other sector for that matter, is still largely a dominion of males, she maintains there are opportunities for women too if they choose to widen their scope.
“Getting a good education, working hard and having confidence in oneself is the surest way for people to improve themselves. I was well-equipped for the job when I became head so women should be encouraged to have high self-esteem and apply for promotions when chances come,” said Makausi.
After becoming Ndarama High School head, she oversaw the addition of new classroom blocks and the school is now building a science block for ‘A’ Level pupils as a way of advancing the teaching of science, maths and technology (STEM) subjects.
Regarding the achievements that Makausi has made on behalf of Ndarama High School, the biggest highlight of all is probably winning the 2013 Secretary’s Merit Award, a coveted recognition of a school’s outstanding accomplishments.
“We believe we are still Award material, we got all that it takes to be there again. We want to leave a legacy that will live on long after we are no longer here. I am fortunate to have a team of hardworking teachers who admire what I do. The deputy head Mr Mukawu is very supportive, and the SDC (School Development Committee) is united in making a success of the vision I have for the school,” Makausi said.
Together with her team and the SDC, she has made strides to meet the full requirements of the new curriculum and the school now has a well-equipped Food Technology and Design department where pupils learn such skills as cake making.
The SDC is also pioneering a vibrant agricultural project at the school and is setting up a greenhouse in which quality vegetables are expected to be produced at limited costs.
Sanitary facilities at the school have been upgraded, with restrooms for both staff members and pupils now sparkling clean and are equipped with soap dispensers, electric hand driers and showers.
A devout Catholic who puts God first in her work, Makausi has also nurtured a culture of zero tolerance on littering and disorderliness at Ndarama High School, an approach that has won the school the admiration of many as emphasis is put on the need for pupils to keep the surroundings ever spotless.
On time keeping, Makausi says there is no better way of instilling that virtue into children than by leading by example.
“I have to be here by half past six every morning to get myself ready so that our children can learn the importance of observing time. When I later go and stand in front of them at assembly, I set the tone for the day and everybody feels challenged to make the best out of the limited time we have,” she said.local

Clever Taperamoyo

MASVINGO – John Neruwana (18) of Zvinoitavamwe village under Chief Budzi in Bikita last Monday appeared before magistrate Dambudzo Malunga who sentenced him to five years imprisonment for raping a 10-year-old girl.
The court heard that Neruwana waylaid the minor, who is related to him, one morning in September 2015 when she was on her way to Nebarwe Primary School.
He then requested to have sexual intercourse with her but she refused, but Neruwana grabbed her and forced himself onto her.
She cried for help but no one was there to give her assistance.
He then gave the victim a five rand coin and threatened her with unspecified action if she happened to reveal the incident to anyone.
The complainant later on reported the incident when she was transferred to Chivhunze Primary Pchool in Chipinge, after she discovered that she had developed itchy rash on her genital area.
A close female relative was the first person to know of the issue which she reported to the complainant’s father who then reported the case to Chipinge police, leading to the arrest of the rapist.local

Lawrence Mandava

NEMANWA – The Reformed Church in Zimbabwe (RCZ) – run Morgenster Teachers’ College last week officially opened five magnificent houses for its members of staff.
The new houses were constructed by Robmeck Construction Company starting in 2015 and are now ready for occupation.
Guest of honour at the event to open the houses, Reverend Josphat Zambuko, who is the chairperson of the Synodical Administration Board (SAB), praised hard work and commitment by the church, college principal, her staff and other stakeholders.
“This is a sign of good administration. To the Church, thank you and your administration for leading by example. Surely all our mission institutions must emulate and follow this good path you have shown us,” said Rev Zambuko.
The principal of Morgenster Teachers’ College, Raviro Chipato also expressed satisfaction that the college was working to maintain quality standards of learning and accommodation despite the challenging economic environment.
“I am encouraged by the fact that Morgenster Teachers’ College has always pioneered events in education and we are working hard so that history can repeat itself,” said Chipato.
Morgenster Teachers’ College has 74 lecturers and over 44 non-teaching staff and still has a huge task to provide adequate accommodation for all its employees.local

CHIREDZI – The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) has allocated US$77 000 to Chiredzi Town Council for roads rehabilitation and the urban authority had made it clear that local contractors will not be given the job due to shoddy work done in the past.
Speaking in a council meeting on Monday, Chiredzi town engineer Wesley Kauma labelled the contractors unprofessional and said council will use manpower and equipment hired form Zinara to do all the required roadworks.
He said some old roads will be resurfaced and those which were not properly done will be attended to soon after potholes had been plugged. He said the local authority had already received US$20 000 from the total amount allocated to them.
“We will no longer entertain local companies to do road construction for us. We will hire Zinara equipment which is a little bit cheap. We will resurface some of the roads soon after we have finished filling up potholes,” said Engineer Kauma.
Last year, there was an outcry after Lion Drive, which had just been surfaced by Clime Construction, a Masvingo – based contractor, began to peel off and develop numerous big potholes a mere three months after work was completed.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Local Government Public Works and National Housing has appointed the council’s new directors to head the finance as well as the housing and community services departments after the posts were declared vacant in 2015.
In a letter which was read by town council secretary Charles Muchatukwa in the meeting, Danister Jori was appointed the new finance director while Emily Paradzai was appointed housing and community services director.
“The new Finance Director and Director of Housing and Community Services will be given three months’ probation period and they will not be paid their maximum salaries during this period,” reads part of the letter.local

RUSAPE – A mentally-challenged woman was arrested last week for assaulting and killing her mother.
Violet Kadoma (34) of Kanyangira Village, Dzairo Area under Chief Makoni in Rusape is in police custody for allegedly killing his mother Emily Kadoma (78).
Manicaland deputy police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Chananda said the incident happened on June 24 at 09:00 hrs.
“Violet and Emily stayed together in Rusape. Emily’s son Andrew Kadoma (58) and his wife Annah Tonatsasei (50) of the same area saw the two quarrelling. They watched from a distance of about 200 metres and Violet started assaulting her mother with fists, open hands and unknown objects all over the body.
“Emily entered into their bedroom while screaming but Violet followed and she later came out of the bedroom alone. Andrew went to check on Emily and found her dead lying on the floor,” said Assistant Inspector Chananda.
“A police report was made and police attended the scene and Violet was arrested. The body of Emily was taken to Rusape General Hospital for a postmortem. She had bruises all over her body, a deep cut on the left check and deep cut on the back of the head near the right ear,” said Ass Insp Chananda.
In a telephone interview, Andrew Kadoma said he was pained by the death of his mother.
“We were used as a family that our mother and Violet always quarreled for little things. We did not think it will end this way. We saw them fighting but it was a usual thing.
“I was shocked when I went to check on her to discover that she was dead. We are saddened by the death of our mother. Our sister is mentally-challenged and everyone knows that but we did not think she would do such a thing,” said Andrew.local