Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
MIDLANDS Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Owen Ncube has commissioned Blinkwater Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre in Mvuma in a development set to boost access to education in the district.
The school was built by the Chirumhanzu Rural District Council using devolution funds. The devolution funds have transformed the education sector with new schools emerging in several districts across the country as the Second Republic steps up the inclusive developmental philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind.
Leaving no one and no place behind has become synonymous with the leadership of President Mnangagwa, who has made it a buzz phrase that has found resonance among the people in both rural and urban areas.
President Mnangagwa
Devolution funds are assisting local authorities in fulfilling their obligation of ensuring improved access to social amenities across the country through the development of key infrastructure such as classroom blocks, roads and bridges among other facilities.
Social amenities and infrastructure development are some of the major pillars of the National Development Strategy (NDS1).
There are plans to expand Blinkwater ECD into a primary school, further enhancing educational opportunities in the area.
The ECD centre, with a carrying capacity of 100 learners has been welcomed as a game changer in terms of meeting the educational needs of the Mvuma community.
In his address during the commissioning of the facility on Tuesday, Minister Ncube said the Government has promised to continue with its developmental trajectory in line with Vision 2030.
“I applaud the Second Republic under the able and visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa for implementing rural development 8.0 Vision 2030 accelerator model in an endeavour to modernise and industrialise marginalised areas underpinned by the development approach of leaving no one and no place behind,” he said.
Minister Ncube said the Second Republic through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, local authorities and the private sector, is providing modern infrastructure to ensure all learners both in rural and urban schools are empowered to excel in their studies.
“Devolution funds allocated to local authorities have transformed the educational infrastructure through the construction of classroom blocks and computer laboratories,” he said.
“Today’s occasion demonstrates another milestone achievement by the Second Republic in transforming the education sector through infrastructure development and adoption of heritage-based curriculum starting 2025.”
Chirumhanzu RDC chief executive officer Mr Lovemore Chatikombo said the Blinkwater ECD Centre is a testimony of the Second Republic’s commitment to the provision of educational infrastructure countrywide.
“We decided to establish an ECD Blinkwater block after realising that children were exposed to danger by crossing major highways to school. We established this school using devolution and council funds,” he said.
“We are also going to develop a primary school here. We are indeed grateful to the Government for releasing the devolution funds on time.”
A resident, Mrs Praise Sibanda expressed gratitude to the Government for chipping in with funds for the construction of the new facility.
“Our young children used to travel long distances hence this facility will ease that burden. We hope such as gesture will be extended to other areas,” she said.
Another resident, Mr Marvel Goko said the construction of the centre has helped local learners in terms of access to education.
“Learners used to travel long distances. We thank our Government for addressing this issue since there was no school at all around this place,” he said.
