Martin Muleya
Poshayi Primary School, located in Shurugwi district made a lasting impression at the recently held Midlands Agricultural show.
With an enrollment of 332 pupils, the school proudly showcased its innovation and talent, reflecting months of hard work guided by dedicated teachers and school administrators.
The school’s herbal exhibition stand manned by confident pupils Mercyleene Jeri (Grade 6) and Shawn Manamike (Grade 7), displayed a range of indigenous herbs such as moringa, kigelia, artemisia and neem. Visitors at the stand were impressed by the pupils’ knowledge of herbal preparation and health benefits.
The school’s participation at the show themed “Smart local solutions for a greener tomorrow- Powered by herbs, knowledge and heritage,” was motivated by the need to promote sustainable and smart local solutions.
According to their teacher Percy Mapudzi, the innovations were purely from the pupils and he played the mentorship role. Mapudzi a trained and certified by Action for Natural Medicine (Anamed) explained that his school was primarily a permaculture school which practices integrated land use design. He highlighted the importance of using local herbs, which are sustainable and beneficial for health, especially in the face of climate change.
“Most people are dying these days because of climate change so we are advocating for people to use local herbs which are smart and sustainable unlike pills. Also what motivated us was that we were the only rural school at the Agricultural show among the 17 schools that were exhibiting.
“The money we get from the sale of our products we have managed to buy a printer and a packaging machine. Our pupils are practising entrepreneurship skills, selling and marketing. This also helps improve their communication skills as they will be interacting with many people,” Mapudzi said.
The school’s stand was vibrant with cartoon-style garden tools, handmade herbal teas and crafts made from recycled materials. Pupils in royal blue hats and uniforms added pride and identity to the display
Poshayi primary school’s success at the Midlands Agricultural Show and the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) demonstrates the potential of rural schools to innovate and contribute to sustainable development.
