Midlands Correspondent
Recent heavy rains in Zimbabwe have caused significant damage, affecting over 25 schools in the Masvingo province.
The downpours have resulted in the destruction of classrooms and teachers’ houses, prompting concerns about the impact on education in the region.
Affected Areas
Bikita District was notably impacted, with six schools suffering damage, including Chikwira High, Marirangwe High, Chinyamapere, Runhengu, Mudzami, and Negovanhu Primary.
According to James Mahofa, the District Schools Inspector, while some classroom roofs were blown away, students still had access to education, and refurbishment efforts are already underway. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as the incidents occurred overnight.
In Chiredzi District, six schools were affected: Gurungweni, Gwerima, Romwe, Banga Primary, Chiyambiro, and Jerezi Secondary. Access to two of these schools was disrupted, particularly at Chiyambiro, where two blocks were severely damaged.
Chivi District, known for its dry conditions, experienced the most extensive damage, with 11 schools affected, including Chamatutu, Mavande, Zvifunzi, Madzivire, Berejena, Makamure, Mushai, Gororo Primary, and Berejena, Danhamombe High, and Nyahombe Secondary. In Masvingo District, only two schools, Victoria High and Mapanzure High, reported damage, with Victoria High losing the roof of one hostel and Mapanzure experiencing damage to six teachers’ houses and one classroom block.
Concerns and Recommendations
The extreme weather conditions have raised alarms about the vulnerability of the education sector, particularly during the rainy season when infrastructure is often inadequate. Dr. Takavafira Zhou, an educationist, highlighted the lack of preparedness for natural disasters and criticized the government’s slow response to such crises. He stated,
“Our greatest challenge is natural disaster preparedness. Government must have rapid response teams to disaster management. This would minimize the effects of natural disasters.”
Dr. Zhou called for urgent government intervention and the declaration of these incidents as natural disasters to facilitate timely assistance.
He expressed concern that communities far from political power often receive little attention during their times of greatest need, emphasizing the need for improved disaster management strategies to protect vulnerable populations and infrastructure.
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