By Cuthbert Mashoko
CHIVI-Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) Permanent Secretary, Moses Mhike conferred Secretary’s Merit Awards to eight outstanding schools in Masvingo Province.
The colourful ceremony was held at Madyangove Primary School on 28 August 2025 at Chivi Growth Point.
The eight recipients of the prestigious accolades of excellence were Madyangove Primary School (Chivi), Rutenga Primary (Mwenezi), Chiredzi Government Primary (Chiredzi), Duma Primary (Bikita), Danhamombe High (Chivi), Rudhanda High (Zaka), Silveira High (Bikita) and Mukaro High (Gutu).
The guest of honor, MoPSE, Permanent Secretary, Moses Mhike congratulated the winning schools and challenged them to keep excelling,” As l move around provinces, l note that each and every province is unique in its own way. In Masvingo, it is the general neatness of the schools that catches the eye.” echoed Mhike.
The Permanent Secretary acknowledged the role private partners were playing in ensuring that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education successfully hold Merit Awards Ceremonies across provinces. “Upon joining the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education as Permanent Secretary, one thing that was brought to my attention was the backlog in Merit Awards conferment, since 2021 we have successfully roped in private players to bankroll this exercise.” said Mhike.
Secretary for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Dr. Addmore Pazvakavambwa congratulated the winning schools, highlighting that Masvingo Province continues to be a shining beacon of academic excellence. “As Masvingo Province, we pride and walk tall given our dominance in the educational fraternity nationally,” said Dr. Pazvakavambwa.
Dr. Pazvakavambwa went on to share the successes of the Province as shown by the 2022 ZimStat data. ” Our literacy rate as a province is impressive above 80 percent. However, we need to improve in order to attain 100% literacy rate and also combat the menace of Drug and Substance Abuse,” added Dr. Pazvakavambwa.
Masvingo Provincial Education Director, Shylatte Mhike was over the moon as she led the briefing and presentation of achievements awards of the winning schools to the Permanent Secretary
“Permanent Secretary and our respected guests, l am impressed that here in Masvingo we have a mixed bag of achievers. Among the winning schools we have Government Schools, Council Schools and Church run schools. This proves that no one and no place is being left behind,” said PED Mhike.
The eight winning schools were showered with a variety of prizes among them laptops, white boards, uniforms for under privileged learners, teaching and learning kits, solar kits, boreholes, a tablet for each winning head. Chiredzi Government Primary benefited a smart, state of the art classroom block which is going to be constructed at the school, while Rutenga Primary walked away with a KV solar kit among other notable prizes.
