President Mnangagwa to Open Long-Standing Primary School in Chivhu, Zimbabwe

On Friday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa will officially open Makumimavi Primary School in Chivhu, Zimbabwe, a school that has been operational since 2003. The school was funded by the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and is one of 17 schools across the country that the President will commission on the same day.

The construction of Makumimavi Primary School began in 2015 and was completed in 2019. Despite its long operational history, the school's official commissioning has been delayed until now. The project was part of a larger initiative to build 17 new public schools in rural and remote areas of Zimbabwe, funded by a $20 million donation from OFID.

The official opening of the primary school in Chivhu, Zimbabwe, highlights the country's efforts to improve its education infrastructure, which is essential for the development of its human capital and economic growth. The success of this project could lead to increased access to quality education for rural communities, contributing to a more educated and skilled workforce in the long run.

The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has stated that the development is a significant step towards ensuring quality and equitable access to education across Zimbabwe, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The ministry emphasized that geography should not be a barrier to quality education.

However, the event has sparked criticism among Chivhu residents, who argue that it is a waste of government resources to commission a school that was completed five years ago. An official who declined to be named told NewsDay, "It's really not a new school. We have held several events at the school, but the president had not visited the school yet."

The Chikomba Rural District Council has reportedly spent thousands of US dollars in preparation for Mnangagwa's visit, including buying clothes made from First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa's national dress cloth for council employees. This expenditure has further fueled the residents' frustration, who feel that the funds could have been better utilized elsewhere.

Despite the controversy, the government maintains that the commissioning of these schools is a vital component of Zimbabwe's drive towards sustainable development and economic transformation. The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education reiterated that teachers should feel at home in their schools to ensure stability and continuity in the education system.

Makumimavi Primary School, operational since 2003, began its construction in 2015 and was completed in 2019. The school's official opening by President Mnangagwa marks a formal acknowledgment of the efforts to enhance educational infrastructure in Zimbabwe, despite the criticisms surrounding the event.

Key Takeaways

• President Mnangagwa to open Makumimavi Primary School in Chivhu, Zimbabwe, operational since 2003.
• The school was funded by the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) and is one of 17 schools being commissioned.
• The project aims to improve education infrastructure in rural and remote areas of Zimbabwe.
• Critics argue that commissioning a 5-year-old school is a waste of government resources.
• The government sees the commissioning as a vital step towards sustainable development and economic transformation.