The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani News Editor
THE First Lady, Dr Amai Grace Mugabe on Friday officially opened a girls’ dormitory at Hande High School in Buhera.
Construction of the dormitory which accommodates 80 students was finished in January this year. So far the school has 14 students in its recently established boarding facility.
The construction was done by soldiers from 3 Brigade in Mutare who were assisted by volunteers from Youths Build Zimbabwe, while the local community chipped in with bricks. Dr Amai Mugabe hailed the partnership between the community and Youths Build Zimbabwe, saying it was important for young people to work towards the development of their respective communities.
“I am really impressed by the work done here where youths volunteered their labour to build such a beautiful structure. Our youths should be empowered with life skills. Our education system is too academic and most of the children strive to pass with flying colours, but not everyone is academically talented. We cannot all have white collar jobs.
“We should not continue having education which teaches people to be employees. We want our young people to establish themselves as entrepreneurs,” she said.
Dr Amai Mugabe called on school children to study hard for them to have a bright future.
“You should work hard in everything that you do because you shape the destiny of your life. It is through hard work for one to be counted in future and this starts right now when you are still at school.
“You should preserve these facilities as they will also benefit future generations. This dormitory was constructed with the future in mind and I want to salute everyone especially the youths because they realised the importance of protecting their sisters from marauding rapists by volunteering their labour.
Future presidents, doctors and ministers should come from this place. Opportunities are there in life and the girl child should not be intimidated to pursue her dream,” said Dr Amai Mugabe.
Hande High School head, Mrs Angeline Guwa, said boarding school was introduced recently and plans were underway to construct a boys; dormitory.
“We started with the girls’ dormitory because we felt that the girl-child is usually disadvantaged in most things. Although the dormitory can accommodate 80 students, we have enrolled just 14 students so far, but we hope that more students will come on board soon.
“The school has an enrolment of 754 students and 31 teachers. Our dream is to see the school growing and attracting more students from across the country. I am excited by the commitment being shown by parents in this drought-prone district as they are so determined to see the school developing. As we speak the community has already moulded 15 000 bricks to be used in the construction of the boys’ dormitory,” she said.
Mrs Guwa also hailed support the school was getting from the Member of National Assembly for Buhera North, Cde William Mutomba.
“Our MP is always there for us. He is the one who liaised with the Zimbabwe National Army which seconded its manpower here to assist us in the construction of the girls’ dormitory,” she said.
Meanwhile, Dr Amai Mugabe pledged to sponsor Murambinda B Secondary School’s whiz-kid, Prudence Zvikomborero Mavura’s A-Level studies at Kriste Mambo High School. Mavura who came second during last’s Southern Africa Development Community’s Secondary Schools essay writing competitions has As in English Language, Shona, Religious Studies, Geography, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Fashion and Fabrics and Accounts.
