The Sunday News
Sandra Tekere and Fairness Moyana, Sunday News Reporters
THE Rotary Club of Matopos has initiated projects aimed at empowering communities and improving living conditions of people in rural areas in some parts of the Matabeleland region.
Driven by the club’s objective “Service to humanity” the club has vowed to assist the needy and it has stretched its hands to upgrade Tshelanyemba Hospital in Kezi in addition to primary and secondary schools in the district.
In an interview, Rotary Club of Matopos president Mr Shelton Mpinyuri said the newly initiated projects consist of providing new hospital equipment, purifying water, upgrading science laboratory equipment and facilitating programmes which will educate communities on diseases caused by poor diet.
“The projects are designed at making sure that the community receives clean water by providing a new solar-powered borehole and pump for the Tshelanyemba High School and Primary and at the same time the club is pushing for the community to be digitalised.”
He said the club was determined to see transformation in Tshelanyemba and besides revamping the structures; the area will have a solar-powered charging cart and Internet for the computers and Science laboratory equipment to allow for greater participation and success in high school Science programming.
“In total the project which is expected to kick start at the end of May will have a positive impact. About 7 000 people in the community are expected to benefit from the project,” said Mr Mpinyuri.
Last month in Cross Dete the Rotary Club of Matopos officially handed over three classroom blocks, furniture and a borehole to Songwe Primary School a donation which has created a conducive learning environment for the pupils. The donation saw more than 400 pupils who were using one old block that catered for the whole school regardless of the pupil’s grades now learning in a properly structured learning environment. Songwe Ward 7 Councillor, Cosmas Mwakiposa applauded the Rotary Club of Matopos for the good gesture saying the new classrooms would help in the community as the block was constantly being blown away by winds.
In addition to the donation, the Rotary Club of Matopos constructed and fenced a school garden which is expected to help pupils in agriculture. They also donated a borehole pump, solar panels and 500 exercise books, 500 pens and 50 rulers.
Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Somerset, Kentucky in United States of America has donated a water system to Dampa Secondary School in Cross Dete as part of efforts to address water problems that were affecting the school.
The donation worth $16 600 included installation of a solar-powered engine pump, two 10 000 litre storage tanks, construction of flush toilets and modern washing basins.
Accepting the donation on behalf of the school, Hwange Rural District Council chairperson Councillor Siphiwe Mapfuwa said the donation would go a long way in addressing adverse water shortages faced by the school.
She added that the development was part of the Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs, Cde Cain Mathema’s vision for the province to have piped water in both urban and rural set ups.
“The introduction of sinks is a rare sight in rural Hwange schools and Dampa Secondary is one of the lucky schools with such hygienic state of affairs. The development is in line with Minister Mathema’s vision for the province to embrace a pipe water system and flush toilets ahead of boreholes and Blair facilities,” said Clr Mapfuwa.
Dampa Secondary School head Mr Pearce Khoza said water problems at the school had resulted in difficulties in teaching especially science subjects.
“This school has had a severe water shortage problem from 2013 following the drying up of the only water source. Zinwa subsequently came into the picture but their water supply was unreliable and erratic hence we survived on fetching from Ndangababi Primary.
“Agriculture lessons were only possible during summer as a result of the water problem,” said Mr Khoza.
