Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
MINISTER of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Albert Nguluvhe on Monday commissioned a new classroom block at Phakama Primary School in the Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle area of Gwanda, marking a major boost to early childhood education in the growing suburb.
The classroom block, commissioned on Monday, was constructed using a combination of devolution funds and Gwanda Municipality resources.
The development has enabled the school, which previously catered only for ECD B learners, to begin enrolling ECD A pupils. Phakama Primary School is currently operating as an annex of Jahunda Primary School.
The facility is expected to ease severe congestion at neighbouring schools, including Senondo Primary, St Christopher’s Primary and Jahunda Primary School, whose enrolments have more than tripled beyond their carrying capacities.
Jahunda Primary School currently has an enrolment of 1 865 learners, Senondo Primary 1 708, while St Christopher’s Primary has 1 160 learners.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Minister Nguluvhe said the classroom block symbolised Government’s commitment to investing in the future of children through education infrastructure.
“This new block is not just a building; it is a sacred space, a testament to our collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment to the future of our children. It will undoubtedly transform the learning experience, providing a conducive environment for growth, exploration and excellence,” he said.
Minister Nguluvhe commended Gwanda Municipality for complementing devolution funding through effective mobilisation of resources and manpower.
“I would like to commend the local authority for their tireless efforts in mobilising resources and manpower to bring this vision to life, complementing the devolution allocation which contributed immensely to the construction of the first block.
“This partnership sends a powerful message — when we invest in our nation’s future through infrastructure development, we lay the foundation for meaningful socio-economic transformation,” he said.
He added that the construction of Phakama Primary School aligns with the human capital development pillar of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), one of the 10 priority areas driving Zimbabwe towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Gwanda Mayor Alderman Thulani Moyo said construction of new schools was one of the local authority’s priorities under its five-year strategic plan.
“We will ensure that more classroom blocks are constructed at this school so that all grades are accommodated as soon as possible. At present, the school is an annex of Jahunda Primary School, but our goal is to see it become a fully-fledged standalone institution,” said Ald Moyo.
“Having more schools in the town will also help address congestion and reduce the long distances learners currently walk to access education.”
The construction of Phakama Primary School has brought relief to residents of Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle, who for years felt marginalised from key development initiatives.
In 2020, residents took the initiative to spearhead the project by mobilising resources, with households contributing US$1 each towards purchasing building materials used to lay the foundation slab. Gwanda Municipality later complemented the effort using devolution funds to complete construction and procure furniture.
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