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Sikhumbuzo Moyo in Sipepa
THE Zimbabwe Defence Forces have brought relief to pupils at Sipepa Primary School some of whom were conducting lessons in the open, under trees due to a shortage of classrooms.

A Grade Seven learner at the school, Richard Chigwida, said some of their school mates in Grade Three and Four have been attending lessons under trees while on occasions they interchanged classrooms with other learners.

“We are excited as learners, these two classrooms will now see our schoolmates learning in a conducive environment, it’s a hearty thank you to the army,” said Richard.

The ZDF yesterday handed over a two classroomed block whose construction began in June last year with funding coming from the Tsholotsho Rural District Council, with the Sipepa community providing labour while ZDF chipped in with artisans towards the project which aptly demonstrated the symbiotic relationship that exists between army and the community.

The bond can also be traced back to the time of the liberation struggle.

The building and eventual handover of the classroom block is part of the ZDF’s community assistance programme that will culminate in the Defence Forces Day Celebrations in various parts of the country.

A number of such projects are in various stages of completion throughout the country in general and Matabeleland region in particular.

There is the construction of a classroom block at Watershed Primary School in Mangwe District that will also be officially handed over today.

Mbamba Clinic in Tsholotsho South, a classroom block at Makotshe Primary School in Insiza District, Ngwana Clinic in Bulilima District, as well as major renovation works at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo are some of the community assistance programmes being undertaken by the army.

Speaking in his keynote address, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Affairs, who was also the guest of honour, Ambassador Mark Marongwe said the general modus operandi for implementing community assistance programmes was that communities and beneficiaries mobilise the necessary financial and material resources while
ZDF contributes through the provision of technical expertise, such as skilled labour.

“The provision of free skilled labour translates to a significant reduction in the total cost of projects.

Situations have arisen however where resource limitations have led to delays in completing projects but in the main, that has generally been timeous.

It is noteworthy here that the criteria used to choose deserving projects is based on whether the community is less privileged or disadvantaged for one reason or another and this is in sync with His Excellency, the President’s thrust under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Vision 2030 of leaving no one and no place behind,” said Amb Marongwe.

“At its inception the ZDF community assistance programme focused on short term projects such as general cleaning of public places, repairs and refurbishment of public amenities.

“However, as demand for high impact public facilities surged, the ZDF shifted the paradigm towards bigger and more impactful projects.

The areas of education and health were targeted, owing to the realisation that literacy and good health were key enablers to general community development.”

Besides the Matabeleland region projects, the army will also hand over a maternity ward at Mberengwa District Hospital where Defence and War Veterans Affairs Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri will be the guest of honour, while Commander Air Force of Zimbabwe, Air Marshal Elson Moyo will hand over Nerumwe Clinic in Chiredzi. Zimbabwe National Army commander Lieutenant-General David Sigauke will hand over Chakadini Clinic in Seke District, Mashonaland East.

The handover ceremony was graced by Tsholotsho South member of Parliament, Retired Brigadier-General Sibangumuzi Khumalo, Matabeleland North provincial education director Mr Jabulani Mpofu, traditional leaders led by Chief Mathuphula, local Councillor Lovemore Moyo, Sipepa Primary School administration and teachers as well as villagers from the surrounding communities.

The ZDF undertakes a Community Assistance Week prior to the main ZDF Day celebrations held in August of each year.

The spirit and purpose of the Community Assistance Week is to foster cordial civil-military relations, engender self-reliance and educate members of the society on the role of the ZDF during peacetime.