The Sunday News
Vusumuzi Dube, Sunday News Reporter
FIRST lady Dr Grace Mugabe on Friday donated building material to one of the oldest schools in Bulawayo, Mpopoma High School, a move that is expected to go a long way in the construction of a new two-storey Advanced level classroom block.
Presenting the material on behalf of Dr Mugabe, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko said it was important for people from Bulawayo to realise that for the city to develop, there was a need for people to work together.
The donated materials included 30 000 bricks and 300 cement bags.VP Mphoko said the First Lady’s gesture had to be viewed as the first step towards ensuring that the school grows.
“Bulawayo is not for anyone, it belongs to every one of us. Today the First Lady has made the first step, it is now up to all of us to follow this and assist this and other schools in the province.The First Lady was supposed to be here in person to hand over this generous donation but she had other pending national commitments but she is here in spirit and told me to tell you that she is making this donation wholeheartedly and more is still to come,” said VP Mphoko.
The Vice President further reiterated to school pupils to value education and not be misled into abandoning school to relocate to South Africa with the notion that they were going to get greener pastures.
He said the pupils should appreciate the effort being done by parents, teachers and Government in shaping their future hence the need for them to value education.
“There are no greener pastures in South Africa, never be misled. I was the Ambassador to South Africa and I know the situation there. Stay here in Zimbabwe, complete your education while you still have the opportunity because education is the only greener pasture you can think of,” said VP Mphoko.
The Vice President further instructed Bulawayo Metropolitan Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo to engage the Bulawayo City Council (BCC) and see to it that the school gets additional land for its expansion.
In accepting the donation, the school’s head, Mr Christopher Dube said this would go a long way in making them achieve their long term goals.
“This school is going to rise to greater heights in the sense that we want to develop it. We want to enroll more students. As we continue to build more and more classroom blocks we want to also cater for the STEM programme so that our students are technologically advanced and prepared for the world of employment.
“The First Lady has actually motivated us to do more for more our students. With this donation we will actually commence the construction of our double storey Advance level block, all the plans are now in place,” said Mr Dube.
Also present at the handover where Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister, Cde Christopher Mushohwe, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises and Co-operatives Development Minister, Cde Sithembiso Nyoni, Energy and Power Development Minister, Cde Samuel Undenge, Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Ex-Political Detainees and Restrictees Minister, Retired Colonel Tshinga Dube and Policy Co-ordination and Promotion of Socio-Economic Ventures in the President’s office, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo.
The function was also graced by three Deputy Ministers namely, Information, Media and Broadcasting services Minister, Cde Thokozile Mathuthu, Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development (Livestock Production) Deputy Minister Paddy Zhanda and Home Affairs Deputy Minister Obedingwa Mguni. The school recently held a fund raising dinner where a number of ministers, together with parents and former students turned up.
