WV Zimbabwe Built School Officially Opened

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Newline Primary School, a learning centre wholly constructed by World Vision Zimbabwe was officially opened on April 8, 2014.

Newline, has been an appendage of a much bigger Brunapeg Primary since 2005, and will henceforth be a standalone school that conducts examinations on its own.

World Vision Zimbabwe’s Sanzukwi Area Development Programme worked with the local community in building the school.

Phillip Ncube, the school development committee chairperson said the official opening of the school marked an important milestone for the community.

“Our journey started in 1980 (when Zimbabwe gained independence) when we approached government so that they would construct a school. Initially we agreed to the plea to mould bricks, though we got surprised when we were told that there was no money for the construction of the school. We continued looking for ways of constructing a school close to our homes but it was to no avail until 1999 when World Vision came,” says Phillip Ncube.

It was too good to be true for the community which is located in Mangwe district in Matabeleland South, adds the school development committee chairperson.

 “World Vision said they would include the plan of the school in their five year development programme and by 2001, we had started building this school.  We provided locally available materials and resources while World Vision assisted us with cement and other building materials,” adds Phillip Ncube.

This culminated in the construction of four blocks, each with two classrooms, as well as teachers’ cottages.

“We used to cry day and night but World Vision dried our tears, now the tears we are shedding are those of joy,” say Phillip Ncube to the people who had come to witness the event who included the local chief, political leadership, the local government and department of education officials.

The Provincial Education Director Thumisani Thabeka (Mrs) says what World Vision, working with the community, had done fitted well into Government’s desire to make sure that the learner’s welfare is upheld.

“We cannot have universal access to education without the infrastructure and with this; World Vision has created a friendly environment that will attract the children. We have come a long way and we have to acknowledge that before the construction of this school, children had to walk long distances walking through thick forests which posed a danger especially to the girl child,” says Thabeka.

Speaking at the same occasion, World Vision Zimbabwe’s Integrated Programmes Director Khumbulani Ndlovu said it is important that parents invested in education.

“Please make sure that your children go to school and I want to encourage all the school children here to work hard,” says Integrated Programmes Director, Mr. Khumbulani Ndlovu.