Staff Reporter
A devastating hailstorm wreaked havoc on Mopane Primary School in Zhombe, Kwekwe district, in December last year leaving more than 1000 students to conduct their lessons in the open.
The storm, which impacted several schools in the district, blew off the roofs of all 16 classrooms at Mopane Primary School, along with other vital facilities such as toilets and teachers’ houses.
Kwekwe District Schools Inspector, Herbert Maziriri, reported during a district civil protection unit meeting recently that the hailstorm had caused extensive damage to multiple schools in the region, including Umlala Park Primary School in Ward 2 and Rhino Primary School in Zhombe.
“On 12 December a hailstorm ravaged the district and it left a trail of destruction in several schools within the district. Umlala Park Primary School in Ward 2, and Rhino Primary School in Zhombe were also affected,” he said.
Maziriri said the situation at Umlala Park has been brought under control with the timely intervention of local leaders providing roofing materials, Mopane Primary School faces a dire circumstance as over 1000 students at Mopane are currently conducting their lessons outdoors, deeming the classrooms unsafe due to exposed asbestos sheets hanging precariously.
“The situation at Umlala Park is under control after the intervention of local legislator, Hon Jacob Chokururama, and Ward 2 councilor Basilio Mutosvori who chipped in with roofing material.
But the situation is dire at Mopane Primary School which was destroyed by the hailstorm. The same situation is also at Rhino Primary School which was one of the worst affected.
All the students are in the open as we speak because the classrooms have their roofs blown off. Some of the asbestos sheets are hanging precariously and pose a danger to the learners hence it’s not safe to continue using the classrooms,” he said.
Maziriri said discussions are underway with Rio Tinto Agricultural College, located nearby, to utilize some of their infrastructure. Despite reaching out to the college, a response is pending, leaving the fate of the displaced learners uncertain.
“We wrote to the college and we are yet to get a response. But we remain hopeful that they will respond quickly so that our learners can learn from a safe place,” he said.
Maziriri emphasized the severity of the situation, urging the declaration of Mopane Primary School as a state of disaster. He highlighted the risks posed by the destroyed toilets, exposing children to potential health hazards.
“This should be declared a state of disaster given the level of destruction caused by the hailstorm. Besides the classes, all the toilets were also destroyed and the situation exposed children to diseases. I, therefore, request the relevant authorities to treat this situation as a state of disaster,” he said.
Acting Kwekwe District Civil Protection Unit Chairperson, Reason Machina, assured swift action, announcing the mobilization of a team of engineers to assess the school’s condition.
“We have mobilized a team that will visit the school as soon as possible to carry out an assessment and map the best way forward. But in the meantime, we are working on supplying tents to the school so that the children can have shade, and in case it rains they will be safe,” he said.
Zhombe legislator, Hon Edmore Samambwa, expressed concern about the vulnerability of schools in the area, emphasizing the need for constant monitoring and regular inspections. He drew attention to termite-related damage, leaving roofing exposed and susceptible to harsh weather conditions.
Hon Samambwa urged responsible authorities, including Zibagwe Rural District Council whose jurisdiction the school falls in, and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, to prioritize regular inspections to prevent potential disasters in these schools.
