According to a report by the Chiadzwa Community Development Trust, the schools built by Anjin, the firm that moved into the area vacated by the families, are failing to accommodate the children.
“Parents have constructed temporary make-shift shelters to house the school-children during lessons. The school’s development committee has asked parents who cannot pay school fees to mould bricks for the school instead,” CCDT said.
However, CCDT said parents were unable to make bricks because they had to work. “The children have to leave school and work in order to earn a living,” CCDT said.
CCDT also highlighted the lack of food security for the homeless families as an issue needing urgent redress.
“All school drop outs should be assisted immediately so that they go back to school. Communities need to be assisted to start carrying out their own sustainable livelihood activities so that they are able to fend for themselves. Food hand-outs are not sustainable,” CCDT said.
“Parents, in partnership with International Development Agencies built schools back in Marange and the mining companies should replace the community schools that they destroyed. The schools back in Marange were not overcrowded,” CCDT said.
CCDT wants the Environmental Management Agency to work closely with the community in monitoring the environment to address the issues of pollution and deforestation in Arda Transau. “The community needs alternative forms of sustainable livelihood projects,” CCDT said.
Efforts to get a comment from Manicaland Governor, Chris Mushowe were unsuccessful.
Post published in: News