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Writes Panashe Gwesu
Over 100 school authorities across Zimbabwean provinces applaud Barmlo Construction’s Powerhouse Initiative, the idea of zero interest building credit facility known as the “Easy Build School Block Scheme,” which was launched by Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Hon Dr Torerayi Moyo today in Harare.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Reverend Nyakudya, a leader at the fast-growing private school, Alpha and Omega, based in Zvishavane, mentioned that his school began with 6 students and operated from rented houses. He expressed that God intervened, leading to a significant increase in the number of students to 600. As the need for better facilities arose, Barmlo intervened with its initiative.
“Today, I stand here testifying to this initiative, which was launched by the ministry. The issue of facilities was our major concern when we started our private school in Zvishavane. We encountered many challenges with renting houses, and the situation became worse as the number of students increased. More blocks were needed, and this is when the initiative came in. We now have a center number due to the quality of the new blocks.”
Mr. Chawonza Shonai, deputy principal of Roots Academy from Mutoko, Makosa village, said that this program came at the right time when they needed it.
“We are a school operating in the rural area of Mutoko in Makosa Village. We have a passion for educating the community, but the issue of building facilities and school blocks has been a major challenge. I hope this idea will accommodate those of us from rural areas.”
In his address, Minister Moyo praised this initiative and called upon the private sector to collaborate with the government to improve school infrastructure, which is in line with the National Development Strategy 1.
“Allow me to officially launch a credit facility for school infrastructure development, the Easy Build School Block Scheme. I am thrilled to invite schools to take advantage of this unique opportunity. This scheme aligns well with the vision of His Excellency, President Dr E.D Mnangagwa.
“The government can not achieve sustainable development on its own. Development is made possible through Public-private partnerships as they play a crucial role in achieving vision 2030 by leveraging the resources, expertise, and innovation of both the public and private sectors to drive sustainable development,” he said.
Minister Moyo also mentioned the inadequacy of schools in Zimbabwe, emphasizing the need for people to cooperate to improve the education system.
“Education is the cornerstone of progress and it is our responsibility to ensure that every child has access to high-quality education. However, the lack of adequate infrastructure has remained a significant hurdle for many schools, especially those in disadvantaged areas. Recognizing this challenge, Barmlo has developed a solution that will enable schools to build their facilities with zero deposit.”
Barmlo was established by Dr. Banabasi Marambire who is the current Chief Executive Officer of the construction powerhouse. Apart from doing this for business he firmly believes in the pivotal role of education in Zimbabwe and has expanded the organisation’s reach to Botswana and Zambia.
His commitment to education extends to supporting underprivileged children by offering scholarships up to the tertiary level, underscoring the profound significance of accessible education for all.