Hailstorm Strikes Zvishavane School, Leaving Class...

Hailstorm Strikes Zvishavane School, Leaving Classrooms Exposed and Learners in Need

**A classroom block at Gresham Primary School**

Philemon Jambaya

A violent hailstorm wreaked havoc at Gresham Primary School in Zvishavane on Wednesday, ripping off the roofs of three classroom blocks and leaving 159 learners stranded. The destructive weather event caused thousands of dollars in damage, destroying not only the school infrastructure but also valuable learning materials like textbooks, exercise books, and furniture.

“There was a hailstorm on Wednesday that left a trail of destruction at our school where classroom roofs were blown away,” confirmed Gresham Primary School Head,” Chrispen Moyo. "Huge trees were also uprooted in the vicinity of the school.”

Thankfully, Moyo emphasised, no injuries were reported, with the damage solely affecting property. However, the disruption to learning is significant, with over 150 students now facing uncertainty about their continued education.

Local authorities are already taking action. Zvishavane District Development Coordinator, Darlington Chokera, arrived at the scene with the District Civil Protection Unit to assess the damage and offer immediate assistance.

“We are currently on the ground to assess the extent of the damage,” Chokera stated. “We are also attending to emergency cases to see how best to assist with the help from the DCP.”

This incident highlights the vulnerability of Zimbabwean schools to extreme weather events, particularly in the Midlands Province where heavy rains have been causing widespread damage in recent days. The immediate concern is providing temporary classrooms and replacing lost learning materials to minimize the disruption to the education of these 159 students.

However, the longer-term challenge lies in building resilient infrastructure that can withstand such storms. Investing in stronger roofing materials and implementing proper disaster preparedness measures can help safeguard schools and ensure the uninterrupted education of countless children across Zimbabwe.

This news serves as a stark reminder of the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and the importance of proactive measures to protect vital infrastructure and ensure the continuity of education for all.