Shamva – A Dutch investor, has committed more than US$1.2 million to expand educational infrastructure in Shamva, citing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership as the primary catalyst for their confidence in the local economy, as a major mining firm deepens its corporate social investment in the district.

Canterbury Private Limited, the 80 percent Dutch-owned mining company, is funding significant upgrades to a local secondary school – including two new classroom blocks at roof level and ten additional staff houses – while separately completing the construction of Zvitokwe Primary School, which now boasts 21 classrooms, flush toilets, solar power and Starlink internet connectivity for 475 learners.

Speaking during a media tour facilitated by the Ministry of Information, Canterbury company secretary Fanuel Tinashe Rusike said the President’s track record on deliverables directly influenced the investors’ decision to expand their commitment.

“We embarked on this project because we wanted to do something tangible,” Rusike said. “President Emmerson Mnangagwa inspires confidence. He has deliverables, and these investors were wooed by him.”

He added that the group went beyond the original scope of the secondary school project, which initially featured only five classroom blocks.

“We are not stopping here,” Rusike affirmed. The new investment also includes modern accommodation for 23 teachers, with ten new houses added to the property since the minister’s previous visit, when only eight existed.

“At the end of the day, our thrust is to support locals here in Shamva with modern infrastructure. We want to be good ambassadors,” he said.

Rusike reiterated that Canterbury answered the President’s call when he declared Zimbabwe open for business at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

“They heard the call by the President when he said Zimbabwe is open for business in Davos. He inspired confidence in our company whose investors are in the Netherlands,” Rusike said. “Our corporate social responsibility is premised on the fact that we are part of the winning team.”

He noted that Canterbury did not initiate the Zvitokwe project – the community did.

“It is a project that came from the people. They had moulded bricks, but ran out of resources and approached us. Being a mining company that is working in Shamva, we began to put in money,” he said.

The company has already committed about US$25 million to its Shamva operations and plans to double that investment in the next phase of expansion.

From dire straits to modern learning

Zvitokwe Primary School headmaster, David Mapako described the transformation as life-changing for both learners and teachers.

“Our situation was dire – we only had three houses that accommodated 17 teachers. We had a few classes and four teachers used one class due to a shortage of classes,” Mapako said.

He said the new infrastructure had ended years of overcrowding and makeshift arrangements.

“We have 16 teachers and our learners no longer sit on the floor. Every learner now has a desk. We used to put our learners in one classroom whenever it rained, but now we have perfect classrooms that accommodate all of them,” he said.

Mapako added that the Ministry and POTRAZ had assisted with internet connectivity, and the school now has flush toilets for the 475 learners.

“Our learners are motivated and there is improvement even in terms of discipline. The parents from the local communities are very supportive,” he said.

He revealed that the school’s long-term vision is to become a boarding school.

Community hails investment

Chaminuka Rural District Council representative, Alderman Margaret Chinhanga commended Canterbury for the modern school, saying the community deeply appreciated the gesture.

“We thank Canterbury for what they have done. The community appreciates this modern school, which has empowered the local communities,” Chinhanga said.

MP backs CAB3, calls for national replication

Shamva South legislator Joseph Mapiki said the construction of 14 schools in the district by various investors should be replicated nationally to ease the development burden on the national treasury.

“If this model can be copied nationally where investors plough back into their communities, we will ease the developmental burden on the national purse. The money that will come from Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube towards the construction of schools, clinics, bridges and drilling boreholes will be less and be directed towards other national objectives,” Mapiki said.

He said the “Shamva model” demands more than token gestures from companies extracting local resources.

“We should embrace this Shamva model where we do not allow investors to come and drill boreholes only and say we are done. We must ensure that those that come to take our resources leave meaningful development,” Mapiki said. “We have advised even our local leaders including chiefs that they cannot trade 50 billion resources for a song.”

The MP linked the development agenda to his support for the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3), which extends presidential and parliamentary terms from five to seven years.

“This is why we are supporting CAB3 and saying yes. The President must be given ample time to complete developmental projects,” he said. “Development should be community driven.”

Zvitokwe Primary School, built on 150,000 handmade bricks moulded by the community, has seven modern classroom blocks with 21 classrooms capable of accommodating up to 840 pupils.

Phase one of the project is 95 percent complete and has consumed over US$836,000, with phase two – including staff accommodation – expected to push the total cost to US$1.13 million. The school features flush toilets, solar power, Starlink internet connectivity and interactive smart boards.