SHANNISE DZOBO
MASVINGO – Masvingo City Council has awarded scholarships to seven underprivileged pupils enrolled at council-run schools as part of their social responsibility.
The handover ceremony was marked with a colourful handover ceremony at the Civic Centre where parents of the beneficiaries received, school uniforms, stationery and school fees.
Masvingo City Town Clerk, Eng Edward Mukaratirwa who was the guest of honour, said the initiative used to be there but due to other factors, it had been put on hold, However, a resolution was made recently to resume such a noble thing.
“This initiative has been on hold for quite some time but the council made a resolution last year to resume the good cause and help underprivileged pupils excel to their full potential,” said Eng Mukaratirwa.
“As a council, we tasked the school heads to scout and look for pupils who are intelligent but with no resources to have a quality education therefore we have seven pupils from different schools with different backgrounds”.
He added that the scholarships were not loans and the pupils will receive grants up to tertiary level.
“Take note this is not a loan, council will be paying the school fees from primary, secondary and tertiary level and providing the school uniforms and stationery that is needed at their respective schools all they need to do is to work hard and when they excel, they will have to come back and give back to the community as well”, said Eng Mukaratirwa.
Acting Deputy Provincial Education Director, Munesu Mabika, who was also present at the ceremony congratulated the Council for such an initiative.
“I would like to congratulate the council for such an initiative which is for a good cause because they have uplifted the lives of these children which is going to change their lives and all I can say to the pupils is to continue working hard so that they achieve their goals”, said Mabika.
One of the beneficiaries, Pardon Imbayago, currently in form 2 at Rujeko Secondary School told The Midweek Watch that all he ever wanted to be in life is to become an engineer and MCC has just paved the way for him to achieve his goals.
“I have always wanted to become an engineer but I was having difficulties in getting all I wanted for a quality education. I am very happy about the scholarship that I just got from MCC because it is going to make my life easier and better”, said Imbayago.
Blantina Chirombe, a single mother of three children also applauded the MCC for such an initiative as she was having challenges paying school fees and other needs for her children.
Other beneficiaries of the school grants are Tapiwanashe Mukondo from Rujeko Primary School, Faith Ngonono from Vurombo Primary, Obey Madziva from Francis Aphiri Primary School, Tanaka Madhuveko from Shakashe Primary School, Shadreck Tauya from Runyararo Primary School and Tawananyasha Musekiwa from Dikwindi Primary sSchool.
