Story by Courage Bushe
ACCESS to quality education for rural learners in Shurugwi District has received a major boost following the launch of a scholarship programme by mining company Chengxi Chengetai Investments, reinforcing the growing role of the private sector in supporting Zimbabwe’s education agenda.
The initiative, launched on Wednesday, saw the mining giant provide scholarships, learning equipment and classroom furniture to 30 learners drawn from four rural schools in the district, as part of efforts to strengthen education outcomes in underserved communities.
The programme is aligned with government’s Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy Two (NDS2), which emphasise inclusive development and improved learning standards through public-private partnerships.
The intervention is expected to improve learner welfare, enhance classroom conditions and ease the financial burden on parents in rural areas where schools continue to face resource constraints.
“We are happy that the Second Republic is walking the talk, and it’s leaving no one and no place behind in its developmental programmes. This is one of its promises, and we are really grateful for this,” beneficiaries said.
“The provision of scholarships to our children has enabled us in a crucial way and we have been relieved as parents. Also, the desks and chairs are not just about giving you a place to sit. It is about creating an atmosphere of dignity and order in the classroom,” they added.
Chengxi Chengetai Investments Corporate Social Responsibility Manager Mr Munyaradzi Musinawako said the company’s education support programme was guided by national development priorities.
“Education is the bedrock of our society. It is the key that unlocks potential, the light that guides our youths towards a brighter future, and the engine that drives national development. It is against this background that, as Chengetai Investments, we have embraced government’s vision and call of leaving no one and no place behind in the development matrix,” he said.
Local leadership welcomed the initiative, citing its importance in addressing long-standing education inequalities in rural communities.
“This initiative is part of Zimbabwe’s efforts to improve access to education, particularly for girls, who have been disproportionately affected by gender inequality, and we want to thank this company for coming on board at an opportune time,” Shurugwi District Coordinating Committee Chairperson, Comrade Shepherd Mudhara, said.
Shurugwi South legislator Honourable Wilson Mhuri said the intervention would have a ripple effect beyond the classroom.
“School is the centre of progress, and when it grows, the whole area grows with it. We expect improved pass rates, increased enrolment, and better discipline because learners will be in a supervised environment. This is the kind of development we have been waiting for,” he said.
Government continues to encourage private sector participation in education development as part of broader efforts to improve access to quality learning and build human capital for sustainable national growth.
