NOIC builds back better after Cyclone Idai
NATIONAL Oil Infrastructure Company of Zimbabwe (NOIC) last week on Friday handed over four renovated classroom blocks at Mutsvangwa Secondary School that were destroyed by the devastaƟng March 2019 Cyclone Idai to the Chimanimani community. Further to the refurbishment of the eight classrooms, NOIC also donated a total of 12 500 exercise books to the school.
The classrooms, renovated at a cost of US$136 000, were destroyed by Cyclone Idai, thereby forcing learners to conduct their lessons in the open. The buildings received a major faceliŌ that includes the fiƫng of a new roof with chromadek sheets to replace the damaged asbestos
sheets, the replacement of broken and missing windows, the plastering and painƟng of both internal and
external walls and the restoraƟon of the damaged floors. OfficiaƟng at the hand-over ceremony, Energy and Power Development Minister, Honourable Zhemu Soda applauded NOIC's gesture saying it will help speed up Government's Vision 2030 of an upper middle income economy. “The noble gesture by NOIC in facilitaƟng access to educaƟon in
less-privileged communiƟes aligns well with our President's mantra of leaving no one and no place behind as we journey towards Vision 2030. “The iniƟaƟve is important. Government has ensured that
infrastructure and other basic ameniƟes are restored in the aŌermath of Cyclone Idai. It is our hope that this effort by NOIC,
combined with efforts of passionate and commiƩed teachers, will inspire and moƟvate learners to work hard in their studies,” he said. Minister Soda said it is Government's expectaƟon that learners from
Mutsvangwa Secondary School will further their educaƟon and set career paths that will allow them to contribute towards the rebuilding of the Chimanimani community. He further encouraged other
stakeholders to emulate NOIC's example and help bridge the infrastructure gap for the beƩerment
of the Chimanimani community. Minister Soda said it is Government's role to create an enabling environment for learning by providing adequate infrastructure, learning faciliƟes and adequate teaching staff.
“That conducive environment should also enable best performances in our
children. Parents should also ensure that children's basic needs are
provided and help them develop the academic, social and emoƟonal skills necessary to succeed in life.
"We should all work on nurturing our children's abiliƟes as they are the future leaders of our great naƟon Zimbabwe,” he said.
NOIC board chairman, Engineer Daniel Mackenzie Ncube said the refurbishment of the school was done as part of NOIC's corporate
social responsibility efforts.
He said Government takes educaƟon as an important empowerment tool that forms the basis of growth and development of the naƟon, hence the iniƟaƟve from NOIC.
“The Second Republic, under the leadership of His Excellency, Dr ED Mnangagwa, places great emphasis on educaƟon. In fulfilment of this
noble objecƟve, NOIC has to play its role in assisƟng Government wherever possible through our CSR scheme.
"By pracƟsing CSR as is the case here
at Mutsvangwa Secondary School, we as NOIC, are helping in empowering communiƟes and in
nurturing future talent and human resources.
“We believe it is our duty as corporate enƟƟes, parƟcularly those owned by Government, to assist wherever we can, to capacitate these boys and girls as they are the future of Zimbabwe,” said Engineer Ncube. He also commended the school staff and the Mutsvangwa community for their unwavering and enthusiasƟc support on the project.
“This success has been achieved through hard work, courage and collaboraƟon. We should feel proud of what we have achieved here,” he said.
The school head, Mr GiŌ Mawacha thanked Government and NOIC for the renovaƟons.
He said aŌer the Cyclone Idai tragedy, they were leŌ with no opƟon, but to conduct lessons in the open and in makeshiŌ tents.
He said the gesture will help in reducing child marriages and drug abuse by learners.
“The cyclone hit us hard here at
Mutsvangwa Secondary School and we are very grateful that NOIC has
come to our rescue. Due to lack of proper classrooms, most of our
children were resorƟng to child marriages and and we believe that from today, those cases will start decreasing,” he said.