The ManicaPost
Freedom Mutanda
Correspondent
A FORMER student at Mt Selinda High School in Chipinge, Dr Blessing Mudavanhu, has ploughed back to the school by sponsoring five girls’ school fees through his family trust.
Dr Mudavanhu met the five beneficiaries at a brief ceremony which took place last week on Wednesday at the United Church of Christ in Zimbabwe-run institution.
Dr Mudavanhu is a member of the school alumni, dubbed Team 88, for it is in that year that the members were in Form Four.
From last term, Dr Mudavanhu paid tuition and boarding fees for five girls at the school.
The sponsorship also covers their uniforms and pocket money.
Dr Mudavanhu, paid a courtesy call on the school amidst his busy schedule to appraise himself on how his former school had developed in the past years.
On hand to welcome him were the teachers, pupils, administration, and the Responsible Authority as well as the School Development Committee chaired by Mr Ashirai Mtirikwi Mawere.
“We went to the Agriculture Department where we showed him the cow which was born following artificial insemination. He was impressed by the efforts we are making as a school to capacitate ourselves by our involvement in macadamia farming.
“Overall, Dr Mudavanhu was enthralled with how the school is attempting to be on its feet, notwithstanding the Covid-19 pandemic, and the financial challenges facing the parents, and the wider community through income generating projects,’’ said Mr Mawere.
After the tour of the school, Dr Mudavanhu met the five girls who are the recipients of the scholarship.
Four of them are in Form Three, and the other one is in Form Four.
In a brief talk with them, he urged the girls to focus on schooling for education.
He urged them to ensure that they develop themselves to be good citizens of the global village.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has spawned another pandemic among the girls, which is early marriage. Do not be tempted to go that route for there is darkness when you don’t finish your education.
“I am sure you can reach the stars if you put your mind to it. This school has produced a number of luminaries. You should set yourselves targets. We need scientists, entrepreneurs, bankers, and all these top professions you may think of to come from this school,’’ Dr Mudavanhu told the girls who beamed in excitement.
Mrs Anne Mhlanga, the girls’ chaperone, was ecstatic about the gesture, and thanked Dr Mudavanhu.
She threw the gauntlet at the girls to do well in their studies as a way of appreciating the kindness shown by their sponsor.
“As teachers, we are grateful to Dr Blessing Mudavanhu who took time from his busy schedule to visit us. Thank you Dr. I would like the five chosen ones here to work very hard, and realise their ambitions which I assume are as lofty as exhibited by Dr Mudavanhu who was here some three and a half decades ago. Dr Mudavanhu now heads Zimbabwe’s premier bank, CBZ. Let us make the school, your parents, and yourself proud by becoming luminaries in your own right,’’ Mrs Mhlanga said.
Last year, Team 88 which Dr Mudavanhu is a member, donated white boards, and a Jojo tank.
Team 89 also donated an overhead projector to the school earlier this year.
Mt Selinda head, Mr Phineas Mundeta urged other alumni to follow the example set by Dr Mudavanhu to ensure that the school grows from strength to strength.
“I want to thank Dr Mudavanhu for what he has done for the five girls, and as a school, we will forever be grateful for that. I call upon other pupils who passed through this school to emulate what Teams 88 and 89 are doing by coming back to develop the school. One brick here, and one brick there, the house will be completed,’’ he said.
The five girls who benefited from the sponsorship are: Munashe Hlahla, Praise Sithole, Ropafadzo Mubvuma, Yvonne Mubuyayi (Form Three), and Nyaradzo Mafunda who all received US$50 from Dr Mudavanhu as a parting shot for their personal upkeep.
