For the past eight months, Mzilikazi and Makokoba have been simmering with raw sewage. Burst sewer pipes are the order of the day. Can the Bulawayo city council and other relevant authorities at least do something about this?
In April 2009, Lobengula primary school had to suspend lessons on several days due to the sewer burst within the school premises and the immediate environs of the school. The situation is ticking health time bomb, and may all those who are responsible take quick and immediate action to remedy the situation.
The situation is graver in Makokoba surbub, along the Mpilo road, close to Mazayi river brigde which is adjacent to Lobengula primary school. ‘G’ and ‘F’ square residents in Mzilikazi can no longer enjoy their meals, of course, they cannot with the stench smell from the burst sewer manholes overflowing with human raw waste.
Showing posts with label Makokoba. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Makokoba. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Parents and Guardians refuse to pay extra levies to contribute towards the payment of teachers’ salaries
Parents and guardians of Mzilikazi high school pupils have refused to pay an extra US$7 per month special levy towards the payment of teachers’ incentives. This came out during an extraordinary School Development Association (SDA) meeting held at the school on Saturday, 20 June 2009.
The meeting was called in response to a government directive that stipulates that SDAs should offer 10percent of their gross monthly income to teachers as allowances to cushion the educators against the high cost of living. Last month, the SDA gave teachers at the school US$8 and R18 each in the form of incentives, however, this payout was unbudgeted for hence the Saturday meeting was held.
In a case of open defiance of the directive, parents and guardians who were present at the meeting, who numbered less than 100 at a school with an enrolment of over 1 500 pupils, cited a number of reasons as to why they are not able to pay. Mzilikazi high school is located in Bulawayo’s second oldest high density suburb, Mzilikazi, with the majority of its pupil population drawn from the surrounding surbubs of Makokoba (the city’s oldest suburb), Barboufields, Nguboyenja and Thorngrove.
The meeting brought to my attention the grim reality of the educators plea in the new political dispensation. It was a sorry state. Teachers present at the meeting had to plead with parents and guardians to pay the extra special levy. The headmaster, Mr. Dube, had to take the stand on several occasions in a desperate attempt to forward the plight of teachers to an indifferent audience. At one such moment he explained to the meeting that he had foiled twice attempted work stoppages by teachers at the school in the past week.
The school continues to lose experienced staff to other schools offering better working conditions. Most schools in Bulawayo are now offering extra incentives to both teaching and non teaching staff. Teachers earn a monthly socialist allowance of US$100 together with the rest of civil servants in Zimbabwe.
One elderly parent summed up the proceedings, “nguphi ungcono phakathi kwalowo othala i-buns lalowo ongelalo, amateacher angcono ayathola iR1000 (sic) kulathi thina esingatholi lutho!” (half a loaf is better than nothing, teachers are at least earning a guaranteed salary of R1000 every month yet some of us have no means of raising money.
The meeting was called in response to a government directive that stipulates that SDAs should offer 10percent of their gross monthly income to teachers as allowances to cushion the educators against the high cost of living. Last month, the SDA gave teachers at the school US$8 and R18 each in the form of incentives, however, this payout was unbudgeted for hence the Saturday meeting was held.
In a case of open defiance of the directive, parents and guardians who were present at the meeting, who numbered less than 100 at a school with an enrolment of over 1 500 pupils, cited a number of reasons as to why they are not able to pay. Mzilikazi high school is located in Bulawayo’s second oldest high density suburb, Mzilikazi, with the majority of its pupil population drawn from the surrounding surbubs of Makokoba (the city’s oldest suburb), Barboufields, Nguboyenja and Thorngrove.
The meeting brought to my attention the grim reality of the educators plea in the new political dispensation. It was a sorry state. Teachers present at the meeting had to plead with parents and guardians to pay the extra special levy. The headmaster, Mr. Dube, had to take the stand on several occasions in a desperate attempt to forward the plight of teachers to an indifferent audience. At one such moment he explained to the meeting that he had foiled twice attempted work stoppages by teachers at the school in the past week.
The school continues to lose experienced staff to other schools offering better working conditions. Most schools in Bulawayo are now offering extra incentives to both teaching and non teaching staff. Teachers earn a monthly socialist allowance of US$100 together with the rest of civil servants in Zimbabwe.
One elderly parent summed up the proceedings, “nguphi ungcono phakathi kwalowo othala i-buns lalowo ongelalo, amateacher angcono ayathola iR1000 (sic) kulathi thina esingatholi lutho!” (half a loaf is better than nothing, teachers are at least earning a guaranteed salary of R1000 every month yet some of us have no means of raising money.
St Columbas High School hosts St Columbas Day
St Columbas High School in Makokoba hosted St Columbas Day on Sunday. Parishioners at the Anglican Church, school pupils and residents of surrounding suburbs of Makokoba, Mzilikazi, Barboufields, Nguboyenja, Thorngrove and North End joined the Anglican community in celebrating this day.
The St Columbas day is yearly event meant to commemorate the founding of the Makokoba Parish. Guests on the day were entertained by cultural and music groups which included, Kwabatsha Dance Company and Amazion Cultural Group
The St Columbas day is yearly event meant to commemorate the founding of the Makokoba Parish. Guests on the day were entertained by cultural and music groups which included, Kwabatsha Dance Company and Amazion Cultural Group
Thursday, June 11, 2009
TEACHERS ORGANISE FUNDRAISING STOKVEL
Teachers at Lobengula Primary School in Mzilikazi surbub are set to hold a fundraising cocktail in Mzilikazi surbub. The stokvel is slated for the 13-14th of June 2009.
“We have organized this event in order to realise extra income and augment our paltry salaries,” said Mr. Simon Mbedzi, a teacher at the school and Fundraising Committee Chairperson.
In a snap survey, most residents expressed disgust at this move by teachers.
“I expect teachers to lead by example,” said Mr. Nkosana Moyo, a parent and guardian. “What values are they teaching our children and society in general by hosting a shebeen? There are better ways of fundraising- I call upon residents of Mzilikazi to boycott this unholy and filthy event.”
All civil servants in Zimbabwe, irrespective of their job title are earning a monthly salary of US$100. The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe has pegged the family basket at US475 for the month of May 2009.
The Minister of Education, Sport and Culture Senator David Coltart recently announced that schools were at liberty to raise extra funds through the School Development Committees, in a move widely viewed as a green light sanctioning schools to remunerate their own staff members.
Lobengula Primary School has already notified parents of a US$3.50 special levy which will go towards the payment of teachers’ salaries. However, it still remains to be seen whether parents and guardians will pay the levy, since a similar move at Mzilikazi High School which is located in the same surbub was met with resistance from parents and guardians.
Stokvelas are popular in high density surbubs, and are characterized by the illegal trade in liquor. The practice is illegal and is equated to the concept of shebeens which are also popular in the high density surbubs. The main difference between a shebeen and a stokvel is that activities at a shebeen are low key with music played at low volume and admission into the premises reserved. The opposite is true about stokvelas.
“We have organized this event in order to realise extra income and augment our paltry salaries,” said Mr. Simon Mbedzi, a teacher at the school and Fundraising Committee Chairperson.
In a snap survey, most residents expressed disgust at this move by teachers.
“I expect teachers to lead by example,” said Mr. Nkosana Moyo, a parent and guardian. “What values are they teaching our children and society in general by hosting a shebeen? There are better ways of fundraising- I call upon residents of Mzilikazi to boycott this unholy and filthy event.”
All civil servants in Zimbabwe, irrespective of their job title are earning a monthly salary of US$100. The Consumer Council of Zimbabwe has pegged the family basket at US475 for the month of May 2009.
The Minister of Education, Sport and Culture Senator David Coltart recently announced that schools were at liberty to raise extra funds through the School Development Committees, in a move widely viewed as a green light sanctioning schools to remunerate their own staff members.
Lobengula Primary School has already notified parents of a US$3.50 special levy which will go towards the payment of teachers’ salaries. However, it still remains to be seen whether parents and guardians will pay the levy, since a similar move at Mzilikazi High School which is located in the same surbub was met with resistance from parents and guardians.
Stokvelas are popular in high density surbubs, and are characterized by the illegal trade in liquor. The practice is illegal and is equated to the concept of shebeens which are also popular in the high density surbubs. The main difference between a shebeen and a stokvel is that activities at a shebeen are low key with music played at low volume and admission into the premises reserved. The opposite is true about stokvelas.
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