Story by Tichaona Kurewa
DIVIDENDS from the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) are transforming the education sector in Hwange District, with at least US$60 000 invested in schools over the past year.
The funds have been used to procure school furniture, tablets, printers, smartphones, laptops, building materials, among other educational accessories.
The latest beneficiaries of the CAMPFIRE programme include Ndimakule, Chikandakubi and Dinde Primary Schools, as well as Nejambezi Secondary School and several other learning institutions across Hwange District.
This news crew recently witnessed the handover of some of the equipment at Ndimakule Primary School under Chief Shana, where learners, school authorities and district officials described the initiative as transformative.
“We are very thankful to CAMPFIRE for donating printers and other ICT equipment to our school. These gadgets will help us learn computer skills and prepare us for a future where technology is important. We appreciate this support because it gives us opportunities that we did not have before,” a learner said.
‘’The new printers will make our school work easier because teachers can now print learning materials for us more quickly. We are grateful to CAMPFIRE for thinking about our education and helping us learn in a better environment,” another learner said.
“We are happy to receive the new ECD chairs from CAMPFIRE. The chairs are comfortable and make our classroom a better place to learn and play. Thank you for caring about young learners and helping us enjoy school every day,” one of the learners said.
School and local authorities also commended the impact of the CAMPFIRE programme in the district, which is home to Hwange National Park, one of Africa’s largest wildlife sanctuaries.
“If you look at the usefulness of these resources, you will agree that they mean a great deal to our schools. Government, through Vision 2030, is driving the digitalisation of all schools, and the donation of laptops and printers is a significant step in the right direction. These resources will go a long way in improving teaching and learning,” Acting District Schools Inspector Hwange, Mr Lunguza Ndlovu said.
“We are grateful for the CAMPFIRE programme, which has greatly improved the learning environment in our district. We hope the programme continues so that it can positively impact the lives of our children and future generations,” Hwange Rural District Council Councillor Peggy Ncube said.
Hwange Rural District Council also highlighted the scale of the programme’s contribution to education development in the district.
‘’As you know, schools are embracing digital learning, and as a local authority we are committed to supporting Government’s Vision 2030. Through CAMPFIRE, we have donated ICT equipment and other educational resources worth approximately US$10 000 to schools.
“Beyond that, we have supported infrastructure development by providing bricks, cement, roofing materials, timber and other construction materials. Altogether, CAMPFIRE investments in schools across Hwange Rural District Council amount to nearly US$60 000 Natural Resources Officer Hwange Rural District Council Mr Nxolelani Ncube said.
CAMPFIRE programmes are primarily funded through sustainable wildlife management, including regulated safari hunting and other conservation-based activities.
