A ZANU PF councillor in Mazowe West has partnered local traditional healer Sekuru Nyangatayani, born Peter Chingudzi, to support less-privileged and differently-abled learners at Farai Primary School in Mashonaland Central province.
Through the initiative, Dickson Mucheriwa, the councillor, donated school fees, stationery and other essential educational materials, a programme that benefited nearly 100 learners.
The intervention seeks to cushion vulnerable families against the crippling effects of poverty, which has left many guardians struggling to meet basic school obligations.
As a result, the school has been battling bad debts, a situation threatening the education of disadvantaged learners.
Mucheriwa’s timely gesture has brought relief to affected families, including orphans and other economically vulnerable children, with Sekuru Nyangatayani also contributing generously to the cause.
The assistance will go towards paying school fees, providing stationery and covering other critical educational needs.
“This is a noble cause, and I am honoured to be part of it. Sourcing these donations was informed by our realisation that the school has been grappling with bad debts, a development that threatens the education of vulnerable learners,” Mucheriwa said.
“Every child deserves access to quality education, regardless of their background or financial situation.
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“We are committed to making a difference in our community and therefore welcome anyone willing to donate or partner with us through public-private partnerships in our quest to ensure access to education for everyone, everywhere.”
He further linked the initiative to national development goals, saying: “This is how we complement Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy in line with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the second republic’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
“Sekuru Nyangatayani’s gesture has come at a critical time when some guardians are failing to pay fees, forcing the school to operate under extreme financial strain due to accumulated bad debts.”
The school administration, parents and School Development Committee (SDC) members have welcomed the support, describing it as timely.
“This initiative has come when we were struggling to keep our children in school.
“We are grateful to Councillor Mucheriwa and Sekuru Nyangatayani for their kindness and generosity,” said one appreciative parent.
Farai Primary School head Shonhiwa Nyanhanga acknowledged the school’s financial challenges, noting that many guardians had failed to meet their obligations.
“Our school has been facing serious challenges in collecting fees from struggling guardians. This gesture will significantly reduce the risk of dropouts. Parents have been relieved from constant reminders, and we have even engaged Chief Makope to assist in debt recovery,” he said.
“The donations of fees, stationery and educational materials will complement our efforts to recover from bad debts.
“We sincerely appreciate Sekuru Nyangatayani’s support, which brings relief to both teachers and learners.
“The provision of boxes of chalk, stationery and fees ensures that learning continues smoothly and aligns with the Heritage-Based Curriculum.”
Farai SDC chairperson Fredrick Mulesi emphasised the need for structured mechanisms to recover school fees while acknowledging the role of traditional leadership.
“After realising that some guardians were not making sufficient effort to pay fees, we engaged local traditional leaders, including Chief Makope, and the response has been encouraging,” he said.
“With Sekuru Nyangatayani’s commitment to cover fees for some learners for the entire year, this initiative will go a long way in empowering disadvantaged children to access education.”
The partnership underscores the importance of community-driven initiatives in addressing educational challenges and promoting inclusivity in Mazowe West, which falls under the constituency of Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe.
