The Redcliff Primary School head and the School Development Committee (SDC) recently snubbed the local Member of Parliament who had gone to donate laptops at the school.
Redcliff MP, Lloyd Mukapiko (MDC Alliance), donated laptops at the school from his Constituency Development Fund (CDF).
He was made to wait for an hour before he was attended to by school authorities as the school head, “was at home, ill.”
Members of the SDC, who are alleged ZANU PF members, were also absent during the donation ceremony. Said Mukapiko:
<blockquote>
I would have been happy to present this donation to the school development committee.
Unfortunately, they had their own political reasons for staying away from this event, which is quite unfortunate.
This donation of computers is benefiting learners here and that is development and development has nothing to do with politics.
We mustn’t destroy the future of our country because of politics, development must take precedence.
CDF is meant for constituency development and development doesn’t locate anyone based on their political affiliations.
</blockquote>
Mukapiko said this was not the first time ZANU PF supporters have rejected the opposition MP’s donation. He said:
<blockquote>
We had a similar situation in nearby resettlement areas in Grasslands.
However, we managed to resolve our differences and we are now working together.
We decided to prioritise development ahead of partisan politics.
Despite the fact that only 28 people voted for me in Grasslands, I have gone on to construct a classroom block in that ward.
This was after a realisation that there were a few schools in the area.
</blockquote>
Mukapiko said some of the people who contested against him in the 2018 elections, among them Edmore Gotora, who represented ZIPP and Brenda Moyo NPF are now part of his constituency development committee. | <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/redcliff-primary-school-head-snubs-mdc-a-mps-donation/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Pindula News

School Head "Refuses" Computers Donation By Opposition MP

Three Form Six students at Hartzell High School are set to appear in Court on Tuesday, 22 November, following their arrest for allegedly stealing 20 laptops from the school.
Courage Mapiye of Harare, Prosper Munyaradzi Simon of Chikanga Phase Two, Mutare, and Prince Mupaza of Whitecliff in Harare allegedly broke into the school’s computer lab and stole the laptops.
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Manicaland District spokesperson, Detective Sergeant Shake Shanu confirmed the arrest of the three learners.
The three, who are all aged 19, will appear in court after writing their final examinations.
Shanu said on 4 November this year, a security guard at Hartzell High School, Kenneth Mabika commenced duty and carried out some perimeter checks around the premises.
Mabika observed that everything was intact and the windows were closed while the doors were locked. Said Detective Sergeant Shanu:
<blockquote>
There was a power outage when Mabika commenced duty. When power was restored, Mabika carried out some checks and discovered that the computer laboratory door was partially open.
He advised a Computer Science teacher, Mr Agrippa Mungazi, who came and discovered that 20 laptops had been stolen.
A roll call was instantly conducted at the school and the three accused persons were missing. Mabika made a report at ZRP Penhalonga.
</blockquote>
Shanu said detectives from CID Mutare attended the scene the next day and fingerprints were lifted.
Mapiye, Simon and Mupaza were interviewed but denied committing the offence. Added Detective Sergeant Shanu:
<blockquote>
On Sunday, the accused persons were further interviewed and admitted breaking the computer laboratory door lock using a hacksaw and stealing 20 laptops.
They took the laptops to Chikanga and left them in the custody of Paidashe Mukwada.
On the same day, the three accused persons led the detectives to Chikanga where they recovered the 20 laptops and a hacksaw from Mukwada.
</blockquote>
Mapiye, Simon and Mupazawere charged with unlawful entry into premises and theft.
The total value of the stolen laptops is US$5 500 and everything was recovered. | <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/hartzell-students-steal-20-computers/">The Manica Post</a>

Three Hartzell High School Students Steal 20 Computers

A British man who taught at Pakati Secondary School in rural Murewa from 1989 to 1991 is set to fly to Zimbabwe next month to hand over computers to two local schools.
Chris Walker, who lives in Great Horton, Bradford, has since set up Friends of Pakati, which has donated computers to both his former employers and the nearby Pakati Primary School.
The donation is aimed at improving the lives of young people studying at two schools with limited resources. Said Walker:
<blockquote>
The facilities we have in Britain are far better than in Murewa, so I’m trying to level things up a bit and help give the students a chance.
The students really want to learn. We often take education for granted here, but there the parents work very hard to cover school fees.
Education means a lot to them – for many, it’s their way out of poverty.
Zimbabwe is one of the best-educated countries in southern Africa, but there are issues in Murewa which make it harder.
Without electricity, the schools are very dark. Students and teachers also don’t have access to basic things like the internet and photocopiers.
</blockquote>
Friends of Pakati is accepting donations via <a href="https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/friendsofpakati" rel="nofollow">PayPal</a> and <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/friends-of-pakati" rel="nofollow">GoFundMe</a>.
Walker said he is still looking forward to going back to Murewa despite the difficult situation in the area: He said:
<blockquote>
I’m hoping to meet a few former students and some old friends, and I’m planning to visit another three schools in the area. I’m very excited.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/20716095.chris-walker-friends-pakati-return-zimbabwe/">Telegraph and Argus</a>

British Man Set To Donate Computers To Murewa Schools

Former Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Petronella Kagonye has been found guilty of stealing laptops that were meant to benefit schools in her constituency in Goromonzi South.
Kagonye was on Wednesday found guilty of the charges she was facing. She was remanded in custody for sentencing.
In convicting Kagonye, Harare regional magistrate Vongai Guwuriro said the former minister failed to account for the twenty (20) laptops donated to her in 2020 during the course of the trial. Said Guwuriro:
<blockquote>
Her defence that she donated them to the less privileged is a far-fetched argument that does not make any sense.
It was in her mind to think they were for less privileged ones. She failed to account for the other 17 and accounted for three, which does not tally with the explanation she gave in court.
According to documentary evidence, 20 (laptops) were for two schools and they were left in the hands of the accused for distribution.
She sent the first begging bowl saying that she wanted to donate the laptops to schools and the court is in a quandary as to what makes the targeted beneficiaries change.
</blockquote>
The State led by Zivanai Macharaga called for a custodial sentence saying by stealing public funds, Kagonye committed a serious offence. Said Macharaga:
<blockquote>
Accused is accused of stealing public funds which is a very serious offence and Zimbabwe’s ranking on corruption is very bad and the reputation of misappropriating public funds is very bad.
These laptops were meant for rural schools in Goromonzi South where the poorest of the poor learn and she was responsible for social welfare.
The people of Zimbabwe had entrusted the welfare of the poor into her hands and she was the last hope of the poor.
She took advantage of that trust and stole from the poor. I have not seen, possibly in our society, that a minister responsible for the poor steals from the poor.
</blockquote>
Through her lawyer Rungano Mahuni, Kagonye pleaded for leniency saying she was a first offender and a breadwinner in her family.
Mahuni argued that Kagonye never stole the laptops in question saying they were donated to the intended beneficiaries.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/ex-minister-kagonye-convicted-remanded-in-custody/">The Herald</a></h4>

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