The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani News Editor
Six months after Zimbabwe recorded its first case of Covid-19, the country is facing transformative challenges as there is no preconfigured play-book that can guide the nation towards appropriate responses.
At one point, the world believed that the pandemic was a fly-by-night phenomenon that wouldn’t alter our way of living for too long.
However, reality has now dawned on everyone. The pandemic will be with us for the foreseeable future.
Therefore the economic and social wheels need to continue turning albeit in a way that does not expose society to the virus.
In the same vein, schools are scheduled to reopen on Monday for the sake of our children’s future.
Government has been proactive and has already availed $600 million for needy schools to improve sanitation and enable them to reopen safely without risking a spike in Covid-19 infections.
This is part of a raft of measures informed by the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s guidelines.
The money is targeted for allocation to schools in all the provinces, with priority being given to those with less capacity to ensure the safety of students and staff.
However, Government alone cannot adequately provide for all the needs to ensure the safety of all students.
An all stakeholders approach is therefore needed to ensure that students are safely back in school.
Church-run institutions are playing a leading role in providing most of the basic needs for their schools.
With a total of 37 schools under its administration in Manicaland, the Roman Catholic Church has already availed more than 15 000 face masks, a thermometer for each school, water buckets and hand sanitizers.
A total of US$13 774 was availed for the project by Pope Francis through the Mutare Diocesan Bishop Paul Horan.
The first set of personal protective equipment was unveiled in Mutare on July 28.
Through the use of Science laboratories at St Joseph’s Mission School in the sprawling Sakubva suburb, Mutare, the church is producing hand sanitizers.
So far, the school has produced 2 750 litres of hand sanitizers.
The diocesan secretary for education, Mr Lawrence Chibvuri, said the church is trying its best to ensure the safety of students when schools reopen.
“The students have been idle for a long time and they need to resume their classes. All the material will be proportionally distributed depending on the enrolment of the schools.
“This is a special gift from Pope Francis to the children of Zimbabwe and we should ensure its proper usage so that we do not get a spike in Covid-19 cases.
“Our schools will have a starting point as most coffers were virtually empty when they closed in March,” said Mr Chibvuri.
On the other hand, the United Methodist Church has extended its Chabadza Community Development Programme to cater for Covid-19 intervention programmes.
UMC education secretary, Reverend Munyaradzi Timire, said a holistic approach will ensure a smooth flow of lessons when schools reopen.
“Through the Chabadza Community Development Programme, we are targeting 25 vulnerable schools in every district across the country. We will supply them with PPE.
“We have learnt a lot from the Covid-19 pandemic and therefore we need to put in place alternative methods for students to continue with their lessons when the environment is not conducive.
“During a recent visit to Hartzell High School, the Primary and Secondary Education Minister, Ambassador Cain Mathema, said the time has come for schools to become export processing zones,” said Rev Timire.
He went on to applaud the St Joseph’s Mission School for taking heed of the minister’s call by producing hand sanitizers.
“This will spur many schools to follow suit. In the meantime, other schools can purchase hand sanitizers from the school, thereby creating a fully-fledged production and supply chain,” said Rev Timire.
In Buhera, 20 schools have so far benefited from the Chabadza Community Development programme, while 25 benefiting in Mutasa.
Mutare District Schools Inspector, Mr Creezin Chofamba, hailed mission schools for complementing Government’s efforts, saying guaranteeing children’s future is everyone’s responsibility.
“Parents had been clamouring for the resumption of classes and Government had to respond through this phased reopening,” said Mr Chofamba.
He said every child has a right to education.
“A child should enjoy their right to education and it is our duty to ensure their safety.
“That is why we have schools at prisons to cater for the educational needs of children who have imprisoned parents.
“During the liberation struggle and with guns blazing, schools were set up at refugee camps in Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia.
“Therefore children have to pursue their education. However, all stakeholders should create the necessary safe learning environment,” said Mr Chofamba.
He went on reveal that in Mutare district alone, 23 200 candidates will be sitting for their Grade Seven, Ordinary and Advanced level examinations this year.
Manicaland Deputy Provincial Education Director (secondary and informal education), Mr Charles Mugano said schools producing PPE should not compromise on quality.
“We applaud St Joseph’s Mission School for taking the leading role in providing PPE.
“However, they should ensure the continuous production of quality material.
“There should never be any short-cuts.
“Everyone should also put all the resources at their disposal to good use.
“We need to ensure an incident free environment as schools reopen,” he said.
