Over 600 pupils at Dalny Mine 2 Primary School in Sanyati District, Mashonaland West Province, are at risk as illegal artisanal miners dig tunnels beneath the school’s infrastructure, threatening its collapse.
Recently, another primary school in Kwekwe, Globe and Phoenix, collapsed due to extensive gold panning activities by artisanal miners. A classroom block caved in during school hours, injuring several learners.
Dalny 2 Primary School, with over 600 students and 22 teachers, faces a severe threat if immediate action is not taken before the 2025 school year begins.
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) has called on authorities to intervene and prevent a potential disaster.
“The fate of Globe and Phoenix Primary could soon befall Sanyati’s Dalny Primary. Just as we warned before the Globe and Phoenix collapse, we urge law enforcement to act swiftly to save Dalny Primary School.
Illegal artisanal mining is causing significant ecological and infrastructural damage in the community. We fear that Dalny Primary may not be operational when schools reopen in January 2025.
If Dalny Primary collapses during school hours, lives could be lost. A collapse would also displace 600 learners,” ARTUZ stated.
Zimbabwe already faces a shortage of over 3,000 schools. Despite these challenges, Dalny 2 Primary School achieved a Grade 7 pass rate of 26.8% in 2023 and a marginal improvement to 26.9% in 2024.
