By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Muzarabani — A new chapter has opened for learners in Muzarabani District as Sanya Primary School edges closer to becoming a fully-fledged ZIMSEC examination centre, following the official commissioning of modern classroom blocks and upgraded sanitation facilities on Monday.
The development, celebrated by parents, teachers and community leaders, will bring national examinations closer to home for hundreds of rural pupils who have long travelled long distances to sit for their Grade 7 examinations.
Delta Corporation Operations Director, Mr. Tichafa Rinomhota said the company committed USD60,000 towards the construction of new classroom infrastructure and modern ablution facilities for Sanya Primary School.
“These classrooms represent hope. They represent a future Zimbabwe built by confident, educated children who will one day take up leadership roles across all sectors.
“It is one of the most powerful pathways out of poverty. When children access safe classrooms, clean ablution facilities, and a conducive learning environment, their potential expands, their confidence grows, their performance improves, and their dreams expand. For us, supporting Sanya Primary School is contributing directly to the future of this nation,” Mr Rinomhota said.
Permanent Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education, Mr. Moses Mhike, who officiated at the ceremony, described the milestone as “a powerful investment in the future of our children and our nation.”
Permanent Secretary for Primary and Secondary Education, Mr. Moses Mhike
Established in 2015, Sanya Primary began as a small institution built from pole-and-dagga structures, battling resource constraints typical of many rural schools.
Thanks to a strong Public-Private Partnership involving the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Delta Corporation, and the Sanya community, the school now boasts two new classroom blocks with a carrying capacity of 180 pupils, as well as two fully equipped ablution facilities.
Mr. Mhike commended Delta Corporation for providing building materials through its corporate social responsibility programme, while praising the community for supplying labour and locally available resources that brought the project to life.
“This upgrade is more than bricks and mortar. It is a symbol of what we can achieve when government, the private sector and our communities work together,” he said.
“With these facilities, Sanya Primary is now positioned to host its own ZIMSEC examinations, allowing children to sit for their assessments close to where they live—safely, comfortably and with dignity.”
Parents in the district have long raised concerns about children walking long distances, sometimes in unsafe conditions, to reach examination centres.
The new infrastructure promises to ease this burden, while also boosting school attendance, retention, and performance.
Citing Section 75 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the amended Education Act, Mr. Mhike reaffirmed government’s commitment to delivering universal, high-quality education. He added that the Sanya project supports progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4, which focuses on inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
Despite the progress, the Permanent Secretary noted that the school still requires further development, including additional classrooms and a dedicated ECD block.
He encouraged local and national partners to continue supporting the school until it becomes a fully established, secure, and self-sustaining institution. He also urged Sanya Primary to explore commercial projects to supplement its development needs.
“As we invest in this school, we are investing in peace, harmony, and social cohesion in our community,” Mr. Mhike said.
“Let us continue working together, because every contribution—financial, material or voluntary—brings us closer to a brighter future for our children.”
For the Sanya community, the commissioning ceremony was not just an unveiling of new buildings, but the beginning of a long-awaited transformation.
With the promise of local ZIMSEC examinations now within reach, the school’s journey from humble beginnings to a centre of academic opportunity is a beacon of hope for rural education across Zimbabwe.
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