Mnangagwa commissions 2003 school in 2024

President Emmerson Mnangagwa is scheduled to officially open Makumimavi Primary School in Chivhu on Friday, alongside 16 other schools across the country. The construction of these schools, funded by a US$20 million donation from the Opec Fund for International Development (OFID), represents a significant milestone in ensuring quality and equitable access to education in Zimbabwe, in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Despite being operational since 2003, Makumimavi Primary School's construction, which began in 2015, was completed in 2019. The impending visit by President Mnangagwa has drawn criticism from Chivhu residents, who view it as a wasteful allocation of government resources to commission a school completed five years ago.

Preparations for Mnangagwa's visit have reportedly incurred substantial expenses for the Chikomba Rural District Council, including the purchase of uniforms made from First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa's national dress cloth for council employees. Business activities at the local authority have been disrupted since Monday last week as council workers engage in various tasks to prepare for the visit.

While acknowledging the importance of supporting national events and the directive for government officials to dress in the national attire, residents are concerned about the expenditure of government funds on such preparations, particularly amid ongoing economic challenges.