Chiwenga to resuscitate St Francis of Assisi

ZDF Commander General Constantino Chiwenga has committed himself to resuscitate the St Francis of Assisi Vocational Training Centre which was shut down in 2014 due to lack of funding.

Gen Chiwenga, who was the guest speaker at St Francis of Assisi High School prize giving day on Saturday last week, said the centre will help towards the full utilisation of the industrial carpentry machinery lying idle at the school workshop.

“I will send engineers next week (this week) to assess the viability of the available equipment to make the necessary renovations before the training centre is functional,” he said.

Gen Chiwenga hailed the school authorities for prioritising health of the pupils through the construction of state of the art boys’ ablution facilities.

He also donated $2 000 to the school that will be used towards some developmental projects of the school.

St Francis of Assisi High School principal, Brother Ndabaningi Sithole said the training centre relied on donor funding.

“Prior to its closure, St Francis of Assisi training centre was functional in line with the aims of the national blueprint, Zim-Asset, which is poverty eradication,” he said.

“At the time of its closure, the training centre had 20 students and two lecturers.”

He said the centre was aimed at fostering skills in carpentry to youths so that they can be self-reliant and improve their standards of living.