ZWL$4,690m infrastructure development fund lies id...

ZWL$4,690m infrastructure development fund lies idle, loses value while kids learn in pole and dagga huts

Audrey Galawu

The ZWL$4,690 million for the construction of 35 schools lies unutilised and is losing value as the implementing ministries appear unable to get the job done.

This is revealed in the National Assembly Hansard 1 November 2022 Vol 48 No 88 after presentations by the Portfolio Committee on Primary and Secondary Education revealed that in spite of Government availing ZWL$4,690 million for the construction of 35 model schools (19 primaries and 16 secondary in the 10 provinces of the country, little progress has been made to date.

“The Committee established that there has been no progress yet on the construction of the proposed 35 schools. Some DSIs expressed ignorance as they had no such information of the proposed sites of the new schools set to be constructed in their provinces,” reads the report.

The fund which had the value of around US$50,000 in 12 months ago now translates to about US$7,000 as the ZWL keeps losing value implying that the facility will no longer be sufficient to complete the original set targets.

Besides needing to upgrade facilities at many schools, Zimbabwe has a shortage of over 2000 schools with some education sector stakeholders calling for the reintroduction of hot seating in urban areas to extend access to education.

Only one school, Chimoyo Secondary School confirmed having received some Public Sector Investment Programme funds for construction of school infrastructure.

The DSI in Mutoko confirmed knowledge that Mashonaland East Province will have one of the 35 proposed schools, which is yet to be constructed in Rushinga District.

Sites for the 35 schools have not yet been decided on with the Committee being informed that the modalities for site assessments were being finalised.

Designs are also not in place with a vague statement failing to give decisive status on progress:

“The Committee was informed that the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works was currently working on the designs by improving the drawings of the 17 OPEC Fund for International Development constructed schools,” the Committee was told.

Before and after images from some of the 17 schools built from OFID funds

The 17 OFID funded schools were built in 8 provinces across the country and completed within a period of 24 months dramatically upgrading pole and dagga centres into modern schools.

This shows that capacity is there, one Committee member who declined to be named told Zim Now.

“If 17 schools could be constructed, why not 35? There is indication of lack of willpower and or dearth of leadership within the Ministry. How can DSI’s be ignorant of such an important project?” the MP queried.

The situation at schools that should benefit from the fund

The Committee’s findings on site visits around the country show urgent need for upgrading of schools, thus the need for the 35 school construction programme to be completed so that the next phase can be ideated and implemented to make sure no place is left behind.

Among the schools that the Committee visited are Mutimuri Primary School in Gokwe North which has an enrolment of 318 pupils and seven teachers:

“The school’s state of infrastructure was in an appalling state as it comprises of temporary sub-standard classrooms made of pole and dagga while other classrooms were made of grass thatched open sheds.

“The Committee also established that some of the learners were learning under a tree, which exposes the learners to dust during windy days and cold weather during rainy and winter seasons.

“There was no single classroom at the school made of bricks and roofing sheets as is the normal standard of schools in Zimbabwe. The only building which was under construction was the ECD centre which was being funded by the SDA,” reads the report.

The same situation obtained to Mutimuri Secondary School and its mother school, Denda Secondary School.

“Teachers’ accommodation at Mutimuri Primary School comprise of a sub-standard two roomed flat roof house shared by two teachers and an unfinished five roomed house shared between the headmaster and other teachers.

“The latter had no plastered walls. There were no staff toilets at the school. Both teachers and learners used the same blair toilets which were in a sorrow state. The Committee also found that there were no clean sources of water at the school as it relies on water from Ume River where teachers and pupils have dug wells on the river bed.

At Kasika Primary School, there is only one-four roomed teachers’ house which is shared by five teachers.

At Neshaya Secondary School a teacher was sharing a single room with his wife and three children.

Most secondary schools visited are in dire need of science laboratories and specialised classrooms for other practical subjects like ICT and home economics. for extra school blocks, a library, computer and science laboratories.

Katasa Primary School has two functioning classroom blocks, each accommodating 153 learners.

What they could be like

Of all the schools visited by the Committee, Mutonhori High School in Zaka had some of the best school facilities which are well maintained. The school has a good water supply system which is backed by solar powered boreholes, orchard, school tuck shop and piggery production which contribute to the school’s revenue streams. The school also has specialist rooms for textile, food technology, agriculture, science and ICT laboratories, which makes it a modern school in Zaka District. The Committee was informed that the school has since been given the authority by the Government to offer boarding facilities which will soon be constructed.