By Beverly Bizeki
Chingwizi Primary School in Mwenezi is set to get a facelift with Citizens Initiative, a charity organization led by US-based human rights activist Freeman Chari sourcing for funds to build a classroom block for the school which had gone for 10 years without proper infrastructure since its establishment in 2014.
Speaking to TellZim News, Citizens Initiative Coordinator Wellington Mahohoma said the goal for the group was to fundraise and build at least one fully furnished classroom block although they had a desire to construct more if resources permit.
“We are expecting to start the building process on December 4, if everything goes well. At the moment we are fundraising for one classroom block. Resources permitting we will ensure that we leave the school with all learners conducting classes in safe and modern classrooms,” said Mahohoma.
Mahohoma said the group which mainly focuses on education, health, and disaster management chose Chingwizi Primary to improve access to quality education for the community.
“This project aims at improving access to quality education. The learning conditions at the school are deplorable. The goal is to improve the learning environment and also attract other stakeholders to come and improve the situation at the school,” said Mahohoma.
Chingwizi Primary was established in 2014 for people who were relocated to Mwenezi to pave way for the construction of Tugwi Mukosi Dam. The school’s enrolment of 662 is said to be attending classes in tents that were donated by UNICEF and makeshift thatched sheds.
The school has also recorded one of the worst pass rates in the country, 7.8 percent in the ZIMSEC 2023 Grade seven examinations and it goes without saying that the situation is dire at the school.
The only available block at the school was built by the school development committee with help from the community.
According to the Citizens Initiative, it takes 30 to 40 days to build one block and their goal is to build four by two classroom blocks to accommodate at least 320 learners. The block requires US$25 000 to complete with an extra US$5 000 for furnishings.
Posts on Chari’s X handle showed that at the time of reporting the group had a quarter of the resources required.
In Binga, the group constructed two standard classroom blocks within a year and the pass rate increased from 0 percent to 13 percent.
