By Tadiwa Shunje
MASVINGO – Bulawayo based Maphisa Primary School was crowned champion of the
National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe (NMMZ) National Heritage Education
Quiz at the Great Zimbabwe Monuments on May 18, as part of the commemoration of
International Museum Day.
Maphisa, representing Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, scored 79 points to edge out
Trojan Primary School from Mashonaland Central who finished second with 76 points.
Harare Metropolitan Province’s Mt Sunset Primary School took third place with 70
points.
Helen McGhie Primary School from Masvingo finished fourth with 66 points.
Cecil John Rhodes Primary School from the Midlands finished fifth with 65 points.
Jahunda Primary School from Matabeleland South came sixth with 64 points, and John
Cowie Primary School from Manicaland took seventh with 63 points.
AMR Sisters Primary School from Matabeleland North finished eighth with 60 points,
Darwendale Primary School from Mashonaland West placed ninth with 50 points, and
Nyameni Primary School from Mashonaland East rounded off the top ten with 47 points.
Maphisa team coach Annah Phiri explained how they trained their learners saying they
practiced during weekends.
“We started our quiz last year and we used past exam papers to train our students. We
trained them every day, even during weekends, and thank God our efforts paid off
today. I am very happy with the win. I thank their parents, head, and teachers as well,”
she said.
Team leader Nobuhle Phiri expressed confidence in their victory saying she felt they
would win because they had trained hard.
“The competition was tough, but we knew from the start that we were going to win,” she
said.
Speaking at the event, Masvingo Provincial Education Director Shylatte Mhike urged all
schools to make regular visits to national monuments, emphasising that such
experiences bring history to life beyond what the internet or artificial intelligence can
offer.
“Museums unite a divided nation. These are magical classrooms which show us how
much we have in common. They bring history out of the internet or AI. It connects with a
proverb, ‘chara chimwe hachitswanyi inda’ meaning we cannot build a nation while we
are divided,” she said.
Ministry of Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Rapheal Faranisi, who represented the
Minister of Home Affairs, encouraged schools to visit monuments as they give an
appreciation of history, general knowledge, science, and nature.
He challenged the common mindset that heritage subjects are impractical or do not lead
to employment, comparing heritage studies to business studies and mathematics.
“Medicines come from nature, which is our heritage. You cannot make those medicines
without mathematics, and our traditional practices show an understanding of
Architecture and Science.
