The Anglican Diocese of Manicaland has handed over 14 buses valued at US$3 million to its primary and secondary schools in the province.
As reported by <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200038297/anglican-schools-receive-14-buses">NewsDay</a>, the buses were officially commissioned by Bishop Eric Ruwona on Friday at St Catherine Girls College in Rusape.
The event, which also marked the opening of the girls-only school, underscored the Diocese’s commitment to improving educational opportunities.
In his welcoming remarks, Bishop Ruwona said the addition of the buses would greatly improve the quality of education, particularly through facilitating educational tours for students. He said:
<blockquote>
We are going to employ transport managers who are going to manage these buses so that we generate income. We don’t want these buses to lie idle.
As the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland, we are always striving to make our schools the best in the country.
</blockquote>
The occasion was graced by several dignitaries, including diocesan secretary Edmund Father Samutereko, Archbishop of Central Africa and Bishop of Lusaka Albert Chama, Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Misheck Mugadza, and Provincial Education Director Richard Gabaza, who stood in for Primary and Secondary Education Permanent Secretary Moses Mhike.
In a speech read on his behalf, Mhike said that he hoped the buses would be put to good use. He said:
<blockquote>
I want to applaud the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland for the procurement of buses. This is responsible enough from a responsible authority.
The acquisition of the top-of-the-range buses is a commitment to the delivery and improvement of learners’ outcomes under a responsible authority.
The buses are going to reduce the transport costs as the schools used to hire buses. My hope is that the buses are going to be put to good use.
</blockquote>
Some of the schools which benefited from the buses are St Mary Magdalene, Little St Augustine of Hippo Primary School in Penhalonga, St Anne’s Mission School, St David’s High School, St Francis of Assisi Primary and Newengo, among others.
In total, the diocese has 54 schools.

Pindula News

The Anglican Diocese of Manicaland gave 14 buses to their schools worth $3 million. The buses were handed over at a special event at St Catherine Girls College. This will improve educational opportunities for students by providing transportation for educational tours. The schools will also make money by hiring out the buses when not in use. Many important people attended the event and praised the Diocese for their responsible decision. Schools like St Mary Magdalene and St David's High School were among those who received buses. Overall, the Diocese has 54 schools in total.

Anglican Schools In Manicaland Receive 14 Buses

The Anglican Diocese of Manicaland Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) has released the names of eight of its members who lost their lives when a Pashonlink bus they were travelling on caught fire and burnt to a shell along the Nyabandza-Gandanzara Road in Rusape on Sunday, June 16.
The bus had 65 members of the Anglican Manicaland Diocese Church on board travelling to their rural homes in Sherukuru in Mutasa District from a pilgrimage at Bernard Mizeki shrine in Marondera, Mashonaland East Province.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 18, the Anglican Church said that the deceased persons are:
<ul>
<li>Mbuya Gladys Gumiro: St Theresa’s Church, Bvumba</li>
<li>Mbuya Winnie Chiremba: St Theresa’s Church, Bvumba</li>
<li>Tete Agnes Miti: St Theresa’s Church, Bvumba</li>
<li>Mbuya Annie Miti: St Theresa’s Church, Bvumba</li>
<li>Mbuya Viola Nyambabvu: St John’s Church, Zambe</li>
<li>Bradey Mukwenhe child (6 months old): St Theresa’s Church, Zambe</li>
<li>Mbuya Charity Nyamapfene: St Dennis’ Church, Njerama</li>
<li>Mbuya Margaret Dairo: St Dennis’ Church, Njerama</li>
</ul>
The Manicaland Diocese said a memorial service will be held Thursday, June 20 at St Theresa Bvumba “in memory of the deceased and celebrate their lives and legacies”. It added:
<blockquote>
We also request prayers and thoughts for the survivors of this tragic accident. They need spiritual, psychological, and social support. We thank God that all the survivors including the admitted are recovering well, rumours of the death of a survivor in the hospital are false.
</blockquote>
The church has invited all church denominations, traditional leaders, the business community, and politicians to the memorial service.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Eight Anglican Pilgrims Killed In Bus Inferno Named

The government has cancelled the operating permit of Passion Link Coaches after one of its buses was involved in an accident that claimed the lives of eight Anglican Diocese of Manicaland members on Sunday evening.
The accident near Gandanzara Business Centre, about 44 kilometres along the Nyabadza-Gandanzara Road.
The Anglican church members were returning from their Bernard Mzeki shrine in Marondera when the bus caught fire resulting in eight people being burnt beyond recognition while eleven others were injured, three of them seriously.
They were travelling to their rural homes in Sherukuru in Mutasa District, Manicaland Province.
<a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/update-govt-cancels-passion-link-bus-licence/">The Manica Post</a> reported that the bus experienced several mechanical faults along the way, including a faulty clutch.
On approaching the 26km peg along the road, passengers noticed some smoke coming out of the bus engine and alerted the driver – Ray Donald Mugari (40).
The driver stopped the bus to investigate the source of the smoke.
Mugari allegedly opened the engine cover located inside the bus near the passengers’ door, and immediately a fireball came out of the engine and quickly engulfed the whole bus.
The driver and other passengers escaped from the burning bus through the door and emergency exit windows but the eight were trapped inside, and burnt to death.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, visited the scene of the accident on Sunday, before visiting the survivors at Rusape General Hospital.
He said the Government has revoked Passion Link Coaches’ operating licence with immediate effect after the owner admitted that the bus that was involved in the accident had no certificate of fitness. Said Mhona:
<blockquote>
The bus operator has openly admitted that the bus had no certificate of fitness, meaning it was not roadworthy.
A bus that does not have a certificate of fitness should not be used to ferry people, and the police will arrest both the bus owner and driver as part of the investigations.
The other buses from this company will not be allowed to ply our roads again with immediate effect.
We have cancelled their operating permit, which means we will not allow them to ply our roads to carry people.
If they had complied with the traffic laws, which do not allow buses without a certificate of fitness to ply our roads, this accident could have been avoided.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Cancels Passion Link Bus Licence After Accident Claims Lives Of 8 Anglican Pilgrims

A top Anglican cleric in Manicaland Province was this week arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on corruption allegations.
Anglican Diocese of Manicaland bishop, Eric Ruwona, members of the church’s standing committee, and four principals were arrested for collecting unsanctioned levies from their schools.
Bishop Ruwona (51), Walter Majoni (35), Daphine Mudarikwa (45), Danisa Muchichwa (40), and Promise Kunyongana (30), who constitute the church’s standing committee, were on Wednesday jointly hauled before Mutare magistrate, Prisca Manhibi, facing charges of contravening Section 21(1) (a) (b) of the Education Act, Chapter 25:04.
They were each granted $60 000 bail, and ordered to report once every Friday at CID Mutare, and not to interfere with State witnesses.
Mutare District Area public prosecutor, Tirivanhu Mutyasira told the court that the suspects resolved that parents and guardians of pupils were to pay a pre-conditional mission fund of US$500 for Form One, and US$900 for Form Five pupils before they could be enrolled in the Anglican Diocese schools.
He said there was no option of payment plan for the mission funds as it was supposed to be paid once-off.
As a result, the court heard, the parents and guardians were forced to pay US$276 250 at the five schools as mission funds.
The respective school principals were also dragged to court for demanding and collecting the mission funds.
Meanwhile, St David’s Bonda Girls’ and St Mathias Tsonzo high schools principals, Tafadzwa Matanhire (30) and Loveshaw Mupondi (27), respectively, appeared separately before Mutare provincial magistrate, Mr Langton Mukwengi, facing extortion charges over the mission funds.
They were granted $40 000 bail each with reporting conditions.
St Mary’s Magdalene principal, Bazel Matikiti (53), and St Faith’s Daniso Muchichwa (40) appeared before Manhibi over the same case.
They were also granted $40 000 bail each.
The cases will go for trial on 4 November, and the State is in possession of receipts that were issued to the parents after paying the unauthorised mission funds.
Those who paid the pre-conditional mission funds were duly given offer letters which will be produced in court as well as evidence.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/anglican-bishop-nabbed-over-levies/">Manica Post</a></h4>

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