Kwekwe pupils get provisional learning facility
PUPILS from the decommissioned Globe and Phoenix Primary School in Kwekwe have returned to Sally Mugabe Primary School for the second term where they are learning from 21 tents provided by the Civil Protection Unit (CPU).
Construction of the new Globe and Phoenix Primary School has not started as the CPU is waiting for the geological survey technical reports of the identified new site in order to ascertain that the area is safe from gold mining tunnels that are said to be underneath Kwekwe’s Central Business District (CBD).
The 98-year-old school, which has 1 300 pupils, was closed in March by the Government following a mishap which resulted in the injury of 18 pupils.
A sink-hole that was attributed to illegal mining activities appeared under a classroom on March 16.
Last year in June, officials from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and other stakeholders visited the school to assess the dangers posed. At the time, they found an early childhood development classroom abandoned as teachers were afraid it would collapse.
During the tour, they discovered some pits dug inside some classrooms.
Following the mishap, the Government provided tents and set up temporary classrooms at the nearby Sally Mugabe Primary School grounds to accommodate the learners.
Kuvimba Mining House availed a piece of land for the construction of the new school which is located near Globe and Phoenix Secondary School.
But construction of the new school will only commence after a geological survey report of the new site and that of Kwekwe as a whole.
In an interview yesterday, Kwekwe District Development Coordinator and Civil Protection Unit chairperson Mr Fortune Mupungu said the Globe and Phoenix Primary School pupils would continue learning from the tents.
“The 1 300 pupils from the decommissioned Globe and Phoenix Primary School in Kwekwe have returned to Sally Mugabe Primary School for the second term where they are learning from 21 tents provided by the Civil Protection Unit,” he said.
Mr Mupungu said the CPU was waiting for a “geo tech” report to ascertain if the new site is safe from tunnels before construction commences.
“The pupils are still there and there are no changes so far because we are still waiting for the geo tech report so that we can make some informed decisions with regard to the new site,” he said.
Mr Mupungu said KMC and local business people have pledged to construct the classroom blocks at the new site.
“It’s a matter of having the technical report and we are good to go. This is because we have a mining company as well as local business people who have pledged to construct the new school,” he said.
Mr Mupungu said they are also waiting for the technical survey report on the safety of Kwekwe CBD which is about 500 metres away from the disused Globe and Phoenix Mine.
The Government in March released funds for drone mapping and a geological survey for Kwekwe in order to ensure the safety of all citizens and businesses, amid indications that some buildings needed to be inspected to avoid a similar or worse situation as underground pits run into the city centre.
Departments affected include the DDC, District Registrar, District Development Fund (DDF), Ministry of Information and CMED among others.
Midlands Provincial Education Director Mr Jameson Machimbira said the Globe and Phoenix pupils were learning in a good and secure environment at Sally Mugabe Primary School.
“As we speak, there is no new infrastructure at the identified site. Works are underway to have new classroom blocks and in the meantime, they will continue learning from Sally Mugabe Primary School where the Government erected tents,” he said.