By Staff Reporter
Some students in marginalized communities of Chiredzi South are currently unable to attend school due to overflowing rivers caused by damaged or non-existent infrastructure.
A teacher from Chambuta, one of the affected schools, confirmed that students have been instructed to stay home until the rains subside to ensure their safety.
“It is a distressing and dangerous situation to witness primary school students being assisted to cross flooded rivers to return home. There is a significant risk of loss of life.
We have advised our students who must traverse rivers on their way to school that they can only return once the rains cease, as we cannot jeopardize their safety,” she said.
The Education Rights advocacy group, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, also expressed concern over this life-threatening situation.
ARTUZ blamed authorities for neglecting the education sector by failing to invest in critical infrastructure.
“Stranded by swollen rivers and treacherous roads, students and teachers in Chiredzi South are struggling to access education.
In the affected areas extending from Chambuta to Gezani, the pursuit of education feels like a distant dream.
These scenes vividly illustrate the stark reality of a neglected education sector, where infrastructure is a disregarded priority,” ARTUZ stated.
The plight of Chiredzi South’s students underscores the urgent need for government intervention, as this situation is prevalent in most rural communities across Zimbabwe.
