A ZANU PF affiliate, Mahwindi for Economic Development (Mahwindi4ED), has paid school fees for 150 vulnerable learners at 10 schools in Mutare.
The payments were made on Friday by the group’s Manicaland chapter, at government primary schools in the high-density suburbs of Sakubva and Dangamvura.
Fifteen pupils were selected from each school.
In Sakubva, beneficiaries were drawn from Zamba, Sakubva, Dangare, Chisamba and Mutanda primary schools. In Dangamvura, the programme covered Rujeko, Sheni, Gimboki, Dangamvura and Chirovakanwe primary schools.
The initiative was led by former Mutare Central MP Esau Mupfumi, Mutare Zanu PF district coordination committee secretary for education Shepherd Jojo, adviser to Mahwindi4ED Jealous Mukorera and chairperson Herman Nyika.
In total, the affiliate spent more than US$8 000 on school fees, easing the financial burden on struggling families and safeguarding the learners’ education.
Speaking to NewsDay, Mukorera said the initiative was prompted by concerns over rising drug abuse among children who dropped out of school due to unpaid fees.
“After realising that some children are failing to go to school because of school fees ending up taking drugs, we sat down with our leader and Mutare Central MP Cde Esau Mupfumi,” he said.
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"As Mahwindi for ED we managed to raise money, we have paid school fees for 150 schoolchildren since we are still starting we are going to grow big in the coming school terms.
“We have heard some people saying that we are violent. We are not violent but it's just the name people gave us. We are just like ushers, we help people and we are ready to help people in the country and Vision 2030.”
Nyika said the initiative would be expanded to include stationery and other learning materials.
“We are going to continue with this initiative in the coming terms, we are also going to provide stationery among other requirements and we are ready to work with other stakeholders,” he said.
School heads, who received the assistance on behalf of learners, expressed gratitude for the support.
