GOKWE Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena has
come to the rescue of more than 1 000 stranded students in his constituency by
splashing $1 million on their Ordinary (O) and Advanced (A) level examination
fees.
This comes as the feisty youthful MP has often been
criticised for driving expensive cars such as his swanky Lamborghini which set
tongues wagging when he imported it into the country last year.
But Wadyajena, who has been twice retained by his constituency
in the last two general elections — yesterday told the Daily News that his
donation was not in any way a response to the “unfair criticism from people who
don’t follow my work”.
“I have done many projects in my constituency and the
payment of examination fees is part of my programmes to support education in
Gokwe Nembudziya. The intervention is part of efforts to lift the burden on
disadvantaged parents who mostly rely on cotton farming for their livelihoods.
“The pupils to benefit are about 1 050 from 12 secondary
schools and five high schools. They are a mixture of Ordinary and Advanced
levels. These children were stranded because they had no means of paying the
exam fees despite them being returned to last year’s figure,” Wadyajena told the
Daily News.
Wadyajena’s company, Mayor Logistics, paid $ 1,010 151 for
the stranded students. He said he was
motivated to assist with examination fees after noting that many children were
dropping out of school due to the prevailing economic hardships.
Wadyajena further said he was trying to prop up education
standards in his constituency which were hugely affected by the ongoing
economic situation prevailing in the country.
“Most of these
children’s guardians and parents rely on cotton farming, however, due to the
low price it is fetching on the market and the drought, most of them had
nothing.
This (the examination fees) should serve as a motivator for
them to continue going to school,” Wadyajena said.
The government
recently overturned Advanced and Ordinary level examination fees increases it
had effected in early February following a backlash from cash-strapped parents.
Daily News
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