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Auxilia Katongomara, Chronicle Reporter
LUshabe Primary School in Tsholotsho South is grappling with an exodus of teachers due to water supply problems and fears of being mauled by lions.

This was said by the acting school head Ms Chisina Donga last Friday during the commissioning of two classroom blocks made possible through contributions made by Tsholotsho South MP Cde Zenzo Sibanda.

The school, which is located in Lushabe resettlement area, has an enrolment of 172 pupils and five teachers.

“We have a problem of water, our borehole only pumps out 16 buckets a day and in winter it produces a foul smell. The school has only five teachers and they are forced to take two grades each which is a very serious challenge,” said Ms Donga.

“When teachers come here they immediately leave saying they fear being mauled by lions and that there is no accommodation.”
She said at inception in 2014, the school had pole and dagga structures with no furniture with pupils sitting on the floor and attending lessons under trees.

“ To date, the school has managed to construct two classroom blocks and this was made possible through sheer hard work by the past and present SDCs, parents and donations from well-wishers among them Cde Sibanda,” said Ms Donga.

She commended Cde Sibanda for donating 100 bags of cement, furniture and building material that facilitated the construction of the classroom blocks.

“We also had parents who were owing levies and they pledged to come and mould bricks. They moulded 35 000 bricks for the classroom blocks and toilets,” she said.

In his speech, Cde Sibanda encouraged parents to take a leading role in community initiatives such as the construction of schools.

Cde Sibanda said community support was key for local projects to succeed.

“Parents must take a leading role in the construction of schools because it benefits the local community. No one will come from Marondera or Lupane to construct schools for you.

‘‘You must spearhead such programmes to complement government’s Zim-Asset policy,” he said.

The guest of honour and Minister of State for Matabeleland North province, Cde Cain Mathema, said he was pleased by the unity of purpose that was displayed in the area.

“I am pleased to note this particular development that has taken place here. It is through hard work and unity of purpose that we have development initiatives of this nature,” said Cde Mathema in a speech read on his behalf by Cde Sibanda.

@AuxiliaK