ZVISHAVANE Town Council has built a satellite primary school in Highlands high-density suburb in a bid to shorten the distance travelled by learners in the area to access educational facilities.
The school, a satellite for Makwasha Primary School, was constructed using devolution funds.
Council acting town secretary Max Mugandani said the satellite school, built at a cost of more than ZWL$121 million (US$26 471 in August 2023), provided easy access to education.
“Through the devolution funds we committed ZWL$121 201 640,54 for the construction of a satellite primary school,” Mugandani said during a Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services ministry provincial media tour of devolution projects undertaken by the local authority.
“The state-of-the-art primary school currently has two classroom blocks and is 99% complete. There are about 90 children from Grade 1 to 4 who started learning at the school this term.
“As we get more funds, future plans are that we increase the level up to Grade 7. As council, we have since bought 200 desks and chairs for the children.”
Mugandani said the school, with a complement of four teachers, had a ablution block, but noted the need for an administration block, among other necessities.
“We had children who walked long distances and were at risk as they crossed busy roads,” he said.
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“But with the coming of this school, we have managed to address some of these challenges.
“The catchment for the school includes Lot 4, Highlands, Isaiah Park and Arise suburbs.”
The satellite school is part of many projects undertaken by council between 2019 and January this year through devolution funds received from government.
Between 2019 and January 2025, Zvishavane council used ZWL$820 535 266 (around US$179 000) on devolution fund projects.
(It should be put into consideration that the figure, is US dollars, might be incorrect considering the change of currencies along the way, which also had an effect on the exchange rate.)
Other projects undertaken during that period include procurement of a motorised grader at a cost of ZWL$2 047 916, SD13 bulldozer (ZWL$13 244 426), tractor- drawn bowser (ZWL$1 021 510), upgrading of Mabhula sewage treatment plant at a cost of (ZWL$25 609 766), purchase of a refuse compactor (ZWL$25 530 000), fire tender (ZWL$501 559 630) and water treatment chemicals for (ZWL$9 399 120), among other projects.
