CHIVI — Four pupils from the same school died on the same day in separate accidents from flooding and being hit by vehicles along the busy Masvingo-Beitbridge highway while coming from school where they walk very long distances, local villagers have said.
By Tatenda Chitagu
The sad revelations were made at the ground-breaking ceremony of Chebvumbwi Secondary School on Wednesday.
A parent, Misheck Mbudere, said most pupils only attained primary education because they were demotivated from proceeding further with education by the long distances to the nearest secondary schools.
“Since independence, we have been asking for a secondary school in our area and we got a few schools which, however, are still overwhelmed by the catchment area,” Mbudere said.
“We have many primary schools here, but after that, few pupils would sacrifice walking 34km to and fro daily to a secondary school as they cross Runde River to Mwenezi.”
He added: “At one time, we lost four children in one day due to flooding or being hit by cars along the highway. We are however grateful for the initiative.” Mbudere said the incidents happened early this year and there were fears that more deaths would be recorded during this rainy season.
Provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa could, however, not be reached for comment to verify the deaths.
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According to reports, 17 schoolchildren have over the past few years been run over by vehicles while crossing the busy Beitbridge highway.
Mbudere said a few pupils from well-up families were able to enrol at nearby boarding schools, but many disadvantaged pupils from poor families ended up dropping out.
Chivi Rural District Council chairperson Killer Zivhu, who is spearheading the construction of the school, donated cement to mould bricks and pledged to construct two classroom blocks.
“I am deeply humbled by the parents’ enthusiasm in bringing their labour for free just to get a secondary school in their backyard,” Zivhu said.
“We cannot walk long distances daily, yet you expect your kids to travel that distance. You also blame them for poor results, which is not fair. No pupil should stop going to school because of long distances. We should help where we can. It is better to expend your energies for such a worthy cause. I will sink a borehole for ease accessibility of water for moulding bricks.”
Masvingo deputy provincial education director Diga Mandiudza said the ministry lauded such multi-stakeholder approaches in bringing education to the people.
“As a ministry, we say no child should be denied their right to education and we really applaud such initiatives. We also call upon the parents to compliment such noble efforts,” he said.
