Energy minister and Mazowe South legislator Fortune Chasi
(Zanu PF) has paid tuition fees for 1 200 pupils from underprivileged families
in his constituency as the community bears the brunt of the closure of Jumbo
Mine.
Chasi deposited $146 000 into Mazowe Primary School’s CBZ
account for second term fees to enable pupils to attend lessons when schools
open at the end of this month.
The school head Archibald Tanda confirmed receipt of
payment. “We received school fees for 1 200 pupils from our honourable MP, the
fees for the second term,” Tanda said.
Many parents and guardians formerly employed at Jumbo Mine
are failing to send their children to school since the closure of the mine.
Zanu PF youth and former Mazowe Primary School school
development committee chairperson Peter Mangisa said they approached their
legislator for help.
“After the closure of the mine many of us have been struggling
to pay fees for our children and we implored our MP to come to our rescue and
he complied,” he said.
“We understand the government’s (Basic Education Assistance
Module) BEAM programme caters for the less-privileged, but due to the shrinking
economy our children are now falling in the same category so we really
appreciate the generosity of our legislator.”
Last year, Finance minister Mthuli Ncube released $140
million towards BEAM which was heavily indebted with up to $65 million in
arrears.
The BEAM programme provides assistance to close to 500 000
disadvantaged children. Newsday
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