The Sunday Mail
Sharon Kavhu
Located approximately 50 kilometres outside Harare along the Mahusekwa road lies one of the most depressing school sites one can ever come across.
Right outside Landas Township lies a dilapidated structure, whose walls have clearly seen better days, while its zinc roofing is falling apart and the paint job looks like it was done some 50 years ago.
Outside the structure on what used to be a veranda, one can see several long benches and small tables where a cluster of small children are sitting with their books. Some of the infants are wearing green dresses and grey uniforms while others are in casual clothes.
Bags, books, plastic bags and lunch boxes are in a corner of the veranda. On the other hand, some more children are sitting under a tree, busy looking at the cars, bicycles and people passing by.
Yes, this is the life of a typical pupil at Manyoshwa Primary School in Marondera West.
“ . . . Of course, we are a school,” said a school official who preferred to comment on anonymity.
“We are actually a Government primary school with over 300 pupils and as such, we do hot-seating. Although the school has probably one of the worst appearances, we offer the same education as offered by other Government schools. In fact, we always have a satisfactory pass rate for our Grade Seven pupils.”
He said the school structure was once a farm house and belonged to a former white farmer. When The Sunday Mail Extra recently toured the school, some of the rooms appeared like tobacco barns as the inside walls were severely burnt.
Unlike other Government schools, Manyoshwa does not have a proper administration office. Instead, they use a tiny room and all their official business is done from a single desk. The backyard of the structure is tainted with a nasty stench as it is often used as the school’s sanitary area.
“Unfortunately, our structures do not have toilets and water systems. As such, the staff and pupils normally use the toilets at the township and also access water from the available taps there,” added the official.
“It is sad that the available shelter cannot accommodate all the pupils. Therefore some pupils use the veranda while others learn under a tree.”
The coming rainy season bring the worst for Manyoshwa Primary School pupils.
“When it starts to rain, it becomes even more difficult for the children to learn. The roofs have massive leaks, this affects the children and also messes the few text books we have. “This forces the pupils from all grades to scramble for the limited available shelter when it rains.”
The official said during the rainy season, the pupils lag behind on their syllabuses as they are inconvenienced by the poor structures.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs (Mashonaland East), Retired Brigadier-General Ambrose Mutinhiri said he is also concerned about the Manyoshwa structures.
“When I got into the office four months ago, I was disturbed by the structures of the school after passing through it. As such, I invited Cde Biggie Matiza and we had a tour together but there has not been a solid solution since then,” said Rtd Brig-Gen Mutinhiri.
“It is sad that such a good performing school is operating on such a poor and dangerous structure. There was a time when I heard that the school actually had a 95 percent pass rate for Grade Seven pupils. Our wish is for the school to have proper structures.”
In a separate interview, Honourable Phineas Chihota, who is Member of Parliament for the constituency, said he will prioritise Manyoshwa if the promised allocations for school developments are disbursed.
“So far, nothing has been done about Manyoshwa School but we are planning on building new structures for the school once the promised $45 000 per district is disbursed.
“Previously, it was not clear which constituency the school falls in as its location on the map is different from its physical location. However, we intend to have a progress meeting with community members soon to see how we can build new structures,” he said.
