RUTENDO CHIRUME
MASVINGO- The Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education through UNICEF and its funding partners breathed a new lease of life to Charingeno Primary and the surrounding villages by installing a state of the art solar powered water system ending years of perennial water woes
The installation of solar systems and piped water scheme at Charingeno Primary School in Zaka marked a turning point for the school and the surrounding six villages which relied on one bush pump for clean water.
Charingeno Primary with an enrollment of 597 pupils together with Charingeno Secondary shared one bush for clean running water.
The shared borehole would occasionally break down leading to a dire situation for the pupils as they were forced to walk at least 10km to the next water point.
This initiative by the MoPSE and UNICEF funded by the Department for International Development through UK Government and implemented under the Zimbabwe Climate Adaptation Water and Energy Project by Christian Care saw learners at Charingeno and its beneficiaries having access to clean and safe water.
Charingeno Piped Water Scheme has three 1000 litre water tanks and water taps installed at different points.
Apart from the water system, Charingeno Primary School also received 14 computers which are all connected to the internet and are used by learners for e-learning or passport learning and other related ICT lessons.
Charingeno head, Mary Mukwenha told journalist during a media tour that the school’s Piped Water Scheme was installed in March 2022 marking a genesis of several other projects which include UNICEF’s School Improvement Grant (SIG)
Mukwenha added that the water system installation at Charingeno came as a relief to the school as it has culminated various projects which were not possible without availability of water.
“The installation of water and solar power here at Charingeno is the greatest gift we would have asked for from the donors.
“There was only one bush pump borehole which the primary and secondary schools relied on for clean water supply.
“We were expected to do some agriculture projects as per the curriculum, but it was not possible.
“We have a school orchard and before we got the tanks, we would sometimes get water from the learners from home, which was a big challenge as it was not enough.
“But since the installation of these tanks we now have a functioning orchard where learners have oranges throughout the year. We have a fishing project of two 9×9 metres fish ponds, green mealies garden with beans and vegetables to feed the learners,” she said.
Charingeno primary also benefited from SIG who gave the school US$1 600 cash which the school used to erect a school gate, adding some solar panels as back up as well as books and furniture for the school.
“When we applied for SIG we had no idea that it was such a big deal. We received some cash initially and we used it to buy the gate, 32 solar panels, we bought books and furniture and as it is we have enough books for the whole school.
“We also bought a television which is open for learners to watch entertainment and learning. At one point UNICEF came through to help us with roofing material when two of the classrooms were blown off by the wind and they also built two more classrooms for us.
“As it is we have enough classrooms for our learners. As Charingeno we are proud of what MoPSE is doing for us through UNICEF and its partners. We hope that we will not be removed from the grant because our pass rate has significantly improved which we owe to the SIG projects here at Charingeno,” added Mukwenha.
In 2022 when the program started the school stood at 38% pass rate, but in 2023 when the programme was in full motion the school’s pass rate went up to 57% and was number two in the district and is gunning for the district merit award.
