The Zimbabwe National Army's 5 Infantry Brigade has completed and handed over a classroom block to authorities at Tsungayi Primary School in Gokwe North as part of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces' ongoing civil-military relations.
This development brings relief to the school, which has been facing a shortage of classrooms. The construction of the classroom block is a testament to collaborative efforts between the army and the local community.
The local community provided bricks and labour, while the Zimbabwe National Army provided technical expertise and Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga donated building materials.
Handing over the classroom block, Permanent Secretary for Defence, Mr Aaron Nhepera, said the ZDF community assistance week was a testimony that military personnel prioritised improving the livelihoods of others.
"The construction of the classroom block is indeed a welcome relief to the community as it helps alleviate the shortage of suitable and critical infrastructure at the school," he said.
Mr Nhepera said the Ministry of Defence was committed to supporting efforts by the school development committee and the community to improve the learning environment.
"At this juncture, let me take the opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Vice President, Honourable General (Retired) Dr Chiwenga, for generously providing the construction materials that were used in this project," he said.
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"The timely contribution by the Honourable Vice President made it possible for the project to be completed within schedule."
Commander 5 Infantry Brigade Brigadier-General Mpuleang Siziba said the army would continue to assist needy communities.
"I must say we are at your service. However, I want to urge communities in need to be organised so that it becomes easy for us to be at your doorsteps and provide the necessary support," he said.
"If you need a building like a school or a clinic, it's always critical that you provide the bricks and call us for critical services so that we carry out several projects within a short space of time."
An elated Chief Chireya said the new classroom block puts Tsungayi Primary School on the map as pupils were facing a serious classrooms shortage.
"We are very happy with the good works by the members of our military. I have been chief for the past 21 years and this is my first time to witness such a gesture in my area. It was interesting to see members of the military personnel interacting with the community," he said.
Gokwe Gumunyu MP, Cde Stephen Ngwenya, expressed his delight at the development initiatives in his constituency, attributing the progress to a shared vision and collective efforts.
