IT has never been a secret that President Robert Mugabe has done so much to provide for the people of Zimbabwe and this week provided yet another revelation of one of the key contributions he has made to national development through his globally renowned education policy.
The revelation was made by 18 Roman Catholic nuns from the Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood who paid a courtesy call on President Mugabe this week at State House to thank him for his contribution in the construction of the Sacred Heart Girls High School in Esigodini, Matabeleland North, on Wednesday.
Since assuming office in 1980, President Mugabe made education one of his Government’s top priorities.
The country went on a schools, universities and technical institutions construction spree.
Today the fruits of this carefully nurtured policy are there for all to see with Zimbabwe now boasting of a literacy rate of over 90 percent, and the most educated nation in Africa.
President Mugabe’s education policy is no doubt one of his enduring legacies that will live for many years to come.
It will be remembered by all, friends and foes included.
Sacred Girls High School is still under construction, but opened its doors in January this year.
A Chinese company, Hualong, is constructing the school.
President Mugabe donated a perimeter fence and financed the construction of a hostel to the tune of a staggering US$460 000.
Speaking after a three-hour long meeting with President Mugabe at State House, head of the nuns delegation, Sister Veronica Dingi said they had come to thank the Zimbabwean leader for his commitment and contribution to the education sector.
The delegation included nuns from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia and Nigeria which all fall under the Zimbabwe Province.
Sister Dingi called on all stakeholders in the country’s education sector to follow President Mugabe’s footsteps by sharing successes and challenges in education.
“We came here to say thank you to the President. He donated a hostel for one of our schools that is Sacred High School and we also wanted to discuss with him as stakeholders in the education sector since we are all partners,” said Sister Dingi.
“We wanted to share with him our joys, vision and challenges in the field of education.
“Our school is a new school and we have challenges of classrooms and accommodation.
“We just started this year and it means next year accommodation will be a problem.”
President Mugabe’s word might have touched the hearts of the nuns but they did not disclose the promises made during the closed door meeting.
“We do not disclose what he has promised us, but he has been to Esigodini in Umzingwane district already and he will continue with the project,” Sister Dingi said.
“We intend to make the school an institution of excellence.
“We want it to be like Monte Casino, one of the schools we run.
“They put us on cloud nine as they topped Ordinary Level pass rate.
“It has always been performing better and it is only just that this year was the climax.”
President Mugabe got belated birthday presents and wedding gifts for his daughter Bona who tied the knot on March 1 this year.
Missionary Sisters of the Precious Blood is a grouping of nuns from different countries.