The Sunday News
Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
MORE than 300 school pupils from Silobela in the Midlands province were left learning in the open after strong winds blew off roofs of seven classrooms at St James Primary School in the area. The incident occurred two weeks ago when strong winds accompanied by rain left a trail of destruction in Silobela.
Although no one was injured, stationery and furniture were destroyed while the walls were left with cracks. Some teachers also had their houses damaged.
St James Primary School headmaster Mr Edward Mpofu confirmed that the school was looking for assistance after winds accompanied by rain blew off roofs of seven classrooms and some teachers’ cottages forcing them to conduct lessons in the school soccer grounds and under trees.
“We are using soccer grounds for lessons. This was after strong winds blew off roofs of seven classrooms and some houses in the teachers’ cottages,” he said.
Silobela Member of Parliament Cde Manoki Mpofu, who visited the school, has called for an emergency meeting that will chart the way forward for the school. He said the matter had been reported to the Civil Protection Unit that was set to hold an emergency meeting to address the issue and see how best the school can be assisted.
Cde Mpofu said the school authorities were appealing to well wishers to assist with roofing material and other resources to repair the damaged classrooms and cottages.
“The situation is desperate because the pupils are learning under trees and considering that it is the rainy season the lessons might be disrupted by rain. So we are appealing to well wishers to come forth and assist the school. The issue has been taken to the CPU who are seized with the matter,” he said.
