By Staff Reporter

In an inspiring tale of youthful talent nurtured to fruition, 12-year-old Kayla A. Chitaunhike from Hippo Valley Primary School is preparing to launch her debut book, Mysteries of Samandra’s New School, on November 1st.

The novel traces the journey of its protagonist, Samandra, as she navigates the challenges and adventures of adapting to a new school environment.

For Kayla, the path to authorship began modestly in Grade 4 when she first discovered her twin passions for reading and writing.

“I started reading and writing in Grade Four and discovered I was passionate about both, initially, I was just writing stories for fun,” said Chitaunhike.

What began as a pastime soon caught the attention of established writer Rurami Mugwizi, who recognized the young student’s raw talent.

“Mrs. Mugwizi is the one who discovered my writing and encouraged me to write a book. She is the one who helped me with editing the manuscript and facilitating the publishing process,” she said.

The budding author also found encouragement from another literary heavyweight, Albert Nyathi, a prolific writer, poet, and musician whose guidance further solidified her resolve to pursue publishing.

Despite her young age, Chitaunhike demonstrates remarkable discipline in balancing her writing ambitions with academic responsibilities and household duties.

“I can balance writing, school work, and chores since I write during my leisure time that is why the book took nearly two years to complete,” she said

She said the main challenge she faced was during illustration since she was suing her phone which had a smaller screen. She said that was until her parents bought her a tablet.

Chitaunhike loves sport, reading, and painting, travelling to new places among other hobbies

Published by ELI MS PUBLICATIONS under the ISBN 978-177928-196-8, Mysteries of Samandra’s New School is not only a milestone for Kayla but also an emblem of what young minds can achieve with passion, perseverance, and the right mentorship.

BUHERA – In a vibrant celebration of academic excellence and holistic achievement, Makumbe High School honored its outstanding learners during a memorable Speech and Prize Giving Day on Saturday, where top performers received cash rewards and recognition for their dedication and hard work across both academic and non-academic disciplines.

Makumbe High School was a hive of activity and celebration on Saturday, 04 October, as it hosted its annual Speech and Prize Giving Day, coupled with the official commissioning of two new vehicles and a state-of-the-art classroom block. The event also served as a visiting day, allowing parents to meet with their children and witness the school’s progress firsthand.

The ceremony was marked by the recognition of outstanding academic and non-academic excellence. Top performers in each subject and across every class level received cash prizes, with the highest achievers walking away with US$50 or more. Adding to the rewards, local Member of Parliament Tafadzwa Mugwadi, who was in attendance, personally gave an additional US$20 to each of the best learners.

In his address, the School Head, Mr. Rusekeni, expressed pride in the learners whose dedicated efforts have consistently maintained the school’s high pass rate.

“In 2024, at O level we posted an impressive 94.64 percent passrate, which is one of the best in the province. We had 39 learners with 5As and above. Our best peformers had 11 As and our heritage teacher recorded 123 As,”said Rusekeni.

He went on to say the school had a 100 percent passrate at A level where 12 leaners had 15 points and above.

“Our school is a hub for sciences and commercials at A level. In Business Studies, we recored 20 As out of 22 learners and 17As out of 35 learners in Mathematics,” said Rusekeni.

He challenged the 2025 candidates to surpass the 2024 pass rate at O level and increase the number of As at A level.

Rusekeni also commended parents for their unwavering support, including through the School Development Committee (SDC), which has enabled the hiring of additional teachers to bolster the academic staff.

Beyond academics, the event also honoured excellence in non-academic disciplines such as sports, music, and art, showcasing the school’s commitment to holistic education.

“In none academic activities, the school is sporting and cultural giant having introduced kickboxing as a new sport code. We have tennis, cricket, basketball among others and the majority of our teams participated at the provincial level,” said Rusekeni

MP Mugwadi, during his speech, motivated learners by sharing his own educational journey. He recounted how he attended school without shoes, contrasting his experience with the opportunities available to today’s students. He challenged them to work hard and aim for excellence so that in the future, they might be seated in the VIP or VVIP sections at such events.

The SDC Chairperson, also present, thanked parents for the trust and support given to her committee and the school, emphasizing the collaborative spirit that has driven the school’s development.

The Guest of Honour, RCZ Moderator Reverend Baloyi, accompanied by members of the moderature, presided over the proceedings. The day stood as a vibrant reflection of community partnership, student achievement, and the shared vision for quality, all-round education in Buhera.

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.