Oscar: “Hallo. Maybe if it’s possible, I would like to let people on your blog know how important this road is for the community. For example, the road leads to a Clinic, 2 Business Centres, 3 schools – namely Shamu Primary and Secondary, Mapanga Primary, and Chanetsa School – and is not far from Pakati schools as well.
Vari Mayez of VaTonatsa Foundation, and Alderman Israel Maliki, councillor for Ward 14
The area consists largely of subsistence, small scale farmers, who do help feed the nation through taking/selling their produce at Mbare Musika – a large market on the edge of Harare.
The road caters for 6 villages with a population of around +/- 60000 people approximately. This information will help to explain why really we need assistance to have this road mantained and reconstructed. Its a 21km road that we must put gravel on it, resources permitting.
For any more information don’t hesitate to contact me, Chairman of the Road Project. This can be done through friendsofpakati.com if need be. We represent the vulnerable the under previledged. Our community have been neglected for too long, hence the desire to take it upon our selves and lead by example and get the ball running.
We dont intend to end there we have more projects in mind which we think we can do ONLY with some sort of aid. To us the sky is the limit. We are concerned residents who are now living a modern life, so why not modernise rural areas too.”
The project has not been without its problems – this recent message from Oscar again:
“Mr Walker. We had a breakdown on our machinery but thank God they were repaired and work is re-starting. This week maybe we will finish the grading part, and on Friday we are commencing building of structures, where I think we expect or need help especially on cement.”
Here above is a rough map of where the work is being done, while below are some pics from google maps, highlighting some of the area concerned. I am not yet certain of the precise route of the road improvements, but the maps can give a feel for the geography of Ward 14 of Murewa district.
Green: Ngomamowa hill – Red: Gezi Primary school – Yellow: Shamu Secondary school. Chigwada shoos are also marked. Nogomamowa can be seen clearly from Pakati schoolsGreen: Shamu Secondary school – Blue: Shamu Primary school – Yellow: Harare to Murewa roadGreen: Pakati schools – Red: Ngomamowa hill – Yellow: Chigwada shops – Blue:Jacopo shops – Purple: Chanetsa Primary schoolRed: Jacopo shops – Yellow: Chanetsa Primary school – Green: Chanetsa secondary school – Blue: Mapanga Primary school
My understanding is that the road improvement runs from the main Harare to Murewa road, then passes not far from the schools at Shamu, Chanetsa and Mapanga, but ends at Jacopo shops. I will confirm the route details when I can.
Still to come here on friendsofpakati.com
• New profiles of former students
• Pakati schools consult with local community over budgets
These pictures were sent a couple of weeks ago, but due to a mix up, I only recovered them recently. They show Pakati Primary school as they prepared to welcome back their Grade 7 exam students. Thanks go to Mr Mahachi (school Head) and his staff for the pictures and information.
Pakati Primary school Grade 7 students, lining up to enter the school under the new rules.
As the Primary school students arrive, they see the key messages about how to combat Corona Virus in a school setting – regular handwashing & sanitising, wearing of masks, and keeping socially distanced
Pakati Primary staff ready to welcome their Grade 7 students back, in preparation for their final year exams.
The students are marked off as they arrive, to ensure social distance guidelines are safely followed.
Before going into class, the Primary students are reminded of the key safety messages, just like their older counterparts at the Secondary school shown in the picture before.
The staff have been preparing for this eventuality for some time, and are keen to help their students once more.
Back in the classroom! It has been a long time, and things look very different, but it is still good to be back.
The two pictures above show the contast between past and present…
Well I don’t have a lot to say today, but after my post on facebook https://www.facebook.com/2258900347689003/posts/2784454361800263/ earlier this morning, asking for some support for all we are trying to do, here at friendsofpakati.com I saw how the statistics are doing for this website. These two pics below show the stats for 2019 & for 2020 so far:
20192020 so far…
Today we have topped 8000 views so far this year, and visitors to the site top 4670. Below shows where the views are coming from – a truly international readership:
….and there were many others too. Here are the most viewed pages this year:
Welcome to Patience’s story! She was just one year away from being at Pakati Secondary school when I was there, being in Grade 7 at the Primary in 1991. Have a good read, again a tale of when resilience and determination shines through…
“Hi, I am Patience Chinhoyi, now 42, former student at Pakati Primary and Secondary. Please let me tell you a little about myself and my family, but let me begin with my education.
I did my grade 7 at Pakati Primary school in 1991, and attained 4 units. I proceeded to Pakati Secondary school from 1992 to 1995, and I was the Vice Head Girl while I was in Form three. Honestly I think they wanted me to be responsible since I was naughty. I was the most talkative in class but very intelligent. I was made the Head Girl in 1995 when I was in Form Four.
I remember when Miss Chadbon taught geography, and she drew the world map on the wall of our Form 4 block.
She wanted every student to know it without referring to the map. It has been repainted, in 2017.
I am the third of four girls in my family – Nyarai, Fortunate, Patience and Gracious. Our mother is still with us, but sadly our father passed away in 1993, leaving mother to raise us alone. (Fortunate was the only one of the family I taught, in Form 4 in 1989, when she was also Head Girl at Pakati Secondary)
We stayed in Chiremba village which was about 5km away from Pakati. Mr Walker occasionally visited our family during weekends and he would enjoy our culture and our traditional foods. At times he would help carrying out house duties (apparently I helped out watering the garden…).
After completing my O levels I could not proceed to A level due to financial resources. I went to Kushinga Phikelela College, (just off the Harare-Mutare Road, a short way past Marondera) studying for a secretarial course. After completing my studies I was employed at a construction company. At the company we were roofing specialists and at times would do civil works. I was the administrator there. Would do quotations, invoice the work for payment. Business in the construction industry is quite lucrative, but the challenge right now is the inflation rate.
I also furthered my studies with Calvary University for my MBA specialising in Human Resources. The major reason I left employment is trying to establish my own business, though it’s very difficult at present. Still in the formation stage, although already we are producing at a small scale, and looking to expand.
Bags of groundnuts awaiting to be processed into peanut butter, I buy them from many local farmers. This is the current project I am working on since I quit work.
VITAPACK natural and organic smooth peanut. My wish is to expand and start exporting my product across the world.”
For me, these stories from people who have passed through either or both Pakati schools, demonstrate that all things are possible regardless. If students from Pakati – and any other similar rural schools – can succeed in life, go to further study, raise families, set up their own businesses, live and work in their home ares, towns and cities, in Zimbabwe and abroad (I have a story in the pipeline from overseas), then what could they have achieved if they had access to the same facilities as the bigger schools? This is really at the heart of what Friends of Pakati is all about, trying to improve the educational experiences of all Pakati students, and by extension, the community.
Aa I am still waiting for a number of people to complete their latest updates, I thought I would take this opportunity to say a few things about the project.
It has been my pleasure to get back involved with Pakati, both schools and their community. Since September 2018 I have had regular contact with the Heads of the two schools, their teachers, plus many students of the past, from before, during and after my time working at the Secondary school between 1989 and 1991. Some of these have become very close friends, and are active in their support for Friends of Pakati, and have been joined by Debbie Chadbon, fellow former VSO teacher at Pakati Secondary school.
Since then, many things have happened, including more funds raised, joint ventures, IT equipment we delivered sports kits being used, then life being halted by Covid 19. Thankfully, as reported recently https://friendsofpakati.com/2020/09/29/schools-limited-return-fundraising-hit-again-by-covid19/ some limited return has been possible, though not without issues – it is still holding back our fundraising as reported in the same post.
There are some recent developments which I have not yet reported on, but as soon as I get the back-story, I will relate it to you on here. It is something that we have covered in the vision for Friends of Pakati, see https://friendsofpakati.com/2020-vision-friends-of-pakati-the-project-continues/ so watch out for the news when we publish fairly soon.
As I have officially come to the end of my weight loss programme for fundraising – loss of 2 stones 2 lbs/14.8kg down since January 16th.
There are funds to come from those who made promises at the start, to add to our total. We do need more please, so please give what you can at http://gofundme.com/friends-of-pakati
It is hard to know how things will pan out, but it is hoped that normality will return in time. I look forward to a time when I can be back at Pakati, to meet friends old & new, hand over more equipment, give thanks for all donations. At present, I plan to be back in about 12 months.
This day last year was the culmination of everything I had worked for, the reason I started the project, the motivation for the sponsored walk and fundraising I did, all the publicity I generated, all the donations I was given. After the process of getting everything to the schools, and after the wonderful celebrations (see https://friendsofpakati.com/2020/09/27/a-truly-amazing-day-at-pakati-12-months-on/ ), the reason behind it all was about today. This day in 2019. Today, we introduced students at Pakati Primary and Secondary schools to computers, donated by https://www.stephensonpersonalcare.com
Thanks to my host Bothwell Riside, the two Heads Mr Chifaka (Secondary) and Mr Mahachi (Primary) plus all staff at both schools, as well as the local councillor, Alderman Israel Maliki, we set about setting up the computers in both schools.
Setting up at Pakati
After a brief discusssion, Bothwell (a fully qualified and experienced IT teacher bimself) did an introductory lesson at both schools, with a handful of students. Below are some pictures, first 2 from the Secondary, next 2 from the Primary.
I was delighted to be mingling with staff and students at both schools, it brought back many happy memories for me. Here are a few pictures….
Also I met some old friends, one of whom I hadnt seen for nearly 30 years, plus some new ones too…
Ultimately, those few days back at Pakati and among the community, have been some of the most rewarding days I have had in recent years. I hope that we can have a similar experience in 12 months time…
Friends of Pakati wholly agree with VaTonatsa Foundation’s message on social media below – and hope that all staff and students take care and stay safe in all schools.
After some months, schools across Zimbabwe have re-opened on Monday, 28th September, to a limited extent. They are open for Grade 7 (Primary), Form 4 (Secondary, O level) and Form 6 (6th form, A level) classes only for now. This below is from the Zimbabwean Government:
Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting@InfoMinZW#PostCabinetBriefing Schools reopening : ~Phase 1 will open on September 28 (Grade 7, Forms 4 & 6) ~Phase 2 will open on 26 October 2020 (Grade 6, Form 3 and 5) ~Phase 3 will open on 9 November 2020 (rest of the learners which covers ECD A and B, Grade 1,2,3,4,5, Form 1 and 2)
On the same day this was tweeted, and added to a whats app group I am a member of, there were also exchanges about getting schools disinfected. This appears to have been carried out in the Ward 14, Murewa (see pics below from Pakati Secondary and Chanetsa Primary) schools:
PakatiChanetsaChanetsa
Mr Chifaka of Pakati Secondary school sent me this picture below, with the following comment – ‘Educating form 4 learners on covid 19 and standard operating procedures on Opening day.’
Below is the guidance for standard operating procedures & protocols for Primary and Secondary schools
Below are some pictures from Pakati Secondary school, showing the implementation of the protocols – all information provided by the Headmaster, Mr Chifaka:
Pakati Secondary School clerk Mr Nehanda, preparing administration requisitions for reopening of school.Mr Katonha and Mr Mapwere restructuring Form 4 learners’ time table.This two sitter desk (often used by 4 students) which takes too much space, and does not enable social distancing, so it is no longer suitable in the new normal.
Above, Form 4 learners sitting in their class room, social distancing being ensured. However, we need additional 210 individual sitting places to accommodate all our learners when school fully reopens. This is the greatest challenge caused by the required social distancing. The old desks are no longer recommended. Schools are now also urged to acquire sitting places with back rests for learners.
Fundraising update
Debbie Chadbon’s desire to help Friends if Pakati with fundraising have been hit for the second time by Covid 19. Earlier this year, the Bristol 10km run was cancelled at the height of the pandemic in the UK, forcing Debbie to look at different ways to support us. As she is still planning to do the run in 2021 all is not lost, but more recently she had smaller plans to help – see https://friendsofpakati.com/2020/09/22/fundraising-activities-for-friends-of-pakati/
Debbie was planning to have a stall selling some of her home grown produce from her allotment.
However, I received the following message from her a couple of days ago…. “Hi Chris. Unfortunately the sale trail has been cancelled due to COVID 😥.”
Sadly it was not unexpected, as there has been an increase in cases again here in the UK recently, leading to many restrictions being re-imposed on people. Ah well, back to the drawing board….
Once again we are looking for ideas to help raise more funds, – much needed as you can see from the pictures and comments above – so please do let us know what you think we could do. Usual contacts:
“I cannot desribe how I feel right now, but if I could bottle it and sell it I would be a very rich man. Its wonderful to be back somewhere that I have so many good memories of. The welcome has been overwhelming. Today I know will be a great occssion, as I will formally hand over the donations to the school with the blessings of the community and its representatives. I will post more pics when I can, plus on the blog when I am able to.”
My hosts live very close to Pakati Secondary school.
Before the events, things were being prepared, some of the pictures below were taken prior to the celebrations
When summarising it all last year, I said this: “I met with the Head, Mr Cifaka, and we discussed all aspects of the day ahead. I also met with local dignatories including the local MP Hon. Mr Jonah Sewera, local councillor Alderman Israel Maliki and other councillors, Dr. Gurajane CEO of Murewa Rural District Council, Heads of local villgaes, School Development Committee members, local donors and supporters of development for women and girls organisation VaTonatsa members, along with staff from both schools.”
Below are just a small handful of pictures taken during the events:
As I was so well looked after and assisted by Bothwell, and he is an active supporter of Friends of Pakati, I feel he should also provide us with his own thoughts and memories..:
“Time is very slow whenever you are waiting for something to happen. It goes very fast when you are doing and enjoying something special. Exactly a year ago Pakati Primary and Secondary school hosted ‘Gushungo’ as Chris is affectionately known here. The mission was to handover and set up the computers before he left.
We went for a refuelling along Samora Machel Avenue in Harare, and then hit the road. Within a couple of hours we were parking and offloading an assortment of computer hardware at the secondary school with a jovial Mr Chifaka assisting too.
The rolling day, a Friday, was for me an unforgetable one. What initially looked like a small event was later graced by the local Councillor , Member of House of National Assembly, councillors from different wards around ward 14.
A presentation was done and the Guest of Honour delivered a memorable speech centred on how he had an indelible relationship with Pakati. Of course most of the people knew about him teaching at Pakati in the late 80s. But no-one had ever thought of how the ward gave him a wife and two golden boys. The MP gave the closing words and appreciated Chris for a sterling job, and the manner he handled the program. Time flew like no-one ever thought and the lunch was served with people mixing to socialised and exchange some stories.
The setting up was carried the following day. Chris showed everyone how to setup the computers and I did a demo lesson for the Primary and Secondary schools was done. Students were given soccer jerseys for sports. The next couple of days were spent moving between Pakati, Murewa and Harare, just trying to fix some logistics.
Chris said goodbye to Zimbabwe after a few more days visiting friends and former students. For me as well as Chris, a very memorable experience, and as he says, a truly amazing day at Pakati”
It was certainly a day I will treasure in my memory for many years to come.
My flight by Kenya Airways, docked at Schipol International Airport, Amsterdam, Holland.
12 months ago I arrived in Zimbabwe for a memorable visit, to bring the donated computers, equipment and football shirts to Pakati schools. I landed at RGM International Airport, Harare, to be met by my hostess for the first night, Donna.
The first day was not particularly warm in Harare, though the welcome certainly was. Donna’s two boys were very happy to see me as I had brought some gifts for everyone.
My hostess, below, Donna:
The donated goods were kept safe by Donna, securely stored away from prying eyes, until my arrival.
Next day, a Thursday, I travelled from Donna’s place in the Harare suburbs, setting off for Pakati with my good friend, Bothwell Riside. He was also my driver, host, companion, translator and guide whenever I needed. The journey to Pakati took around 2 hours with a couple of brief stops…here are some pics while travelling:
The Harare-Murewa-Mutoko roadAbout 60km from Harare is the turn-off towards Musami, known as paCrossAbout 10km from the turn-off is the small Township of Musami. Just before entering Musami is a signboard for Pakati, now off the tarred roads. Once across the Shavanhowe river, turn right and pass Ngomamowa hill, and just a few km further is the main signboard for Pakati….…..where the nearby Njenje family gave me a very warm welcome!
I finally made it down to the Secondary school, where they had been keenly awaiting our arrival. We set about unloading everything, before putting them in a secure room ready for the celebaration and formal presentation to the two schools and local community the next day.
We then set up some of thr equipment to make sure nothing had been damaged in transit.
Once everything was tried out and safely stored, I then joined my friend Bothwell at his family homestead very close to the Secondary school, where I was staying for the few days of my visit to Pakati. Once more I was made incredibly welcome, and could not have been better looked after at a 5* hotel.
There will be much more in the next post, as I look back at one of the most extraordinary days of my life, as I called it last year, a truly remarkable day at Pakati.
“Before I move on to my progression to A level, I want to add more about how Pakati Secondary school has helped me in my life. Firstly, there is the Headmaster, Mr Chifaka, who was also my accounts teacher. Although l got a disappointing symbol (C), I felt motivated by him because he used to say ‘the greatest disability is in the mind’. Also ‘if born in a poor family, a rich family must come out of you’. He shared with me a little of his background life before all the achievements he made academically. He also said that ‘your background does not determine your future. What you to today doesn’t mean you are going to die like that’. He emphasised on good associations and this has helped me a lot.
Indeed Pakati Secondary school molded my character, attitude, spiritual life. Mr Chizenya, History teacher and also my volleyball coach, took most of his spare time sharing good news concerning the gospel of the Trinity God . At primary level Mr Nyamahohwa, my best teacher ever, taught me more about character, attitude, purity, faithfulness, transparency, integrity, love …quoting from the book of 1 Corinthians 13. This molded me into a loyal and faithful woman like Ruth, have the bold spirit of Esther, and a submissive heart like Mary.
With Miss Murape, now Mrs Pindura, at Chemhondoro high school.
Mrs Pindura, the Deputy Head at Pakati Secondary school, took you to Chemhondoro?
Yes, l went with her to Murehwa Mission in Form 1 for my first time in office as a junior councillor, this was the second time. We were given a topic in advance then had to present it from memory as if you are already a councillor. The first topic was….how to eliminate harmful social practices affecting African children especially the girl child. My competitor was supposed to come from Chanetsa secondary, unfortunately but was an advantage to me as they never sent a representative.
How did you decide to become junior councillor?
It was not my choice… Mrs Pindura called me and another girl who was in Form 2 by that time, then she gave us an impromptu speech to make. At the end of the day she said ‘l will go with Portia’.
Ok, did you enjoy it? How long were you junior councillor?
Yes l enjoyed it a lot, l gained exposure and confidence from it which helps me today. I was a junior councillor for the 2 years at Pakati Secondary.
I recently returned for a visit to my home area, and passed through the school grounds.
I could not find much coverage for my phone network, but managed to do so at the fence marking the boundary to the Mapuranga homestead in Chidawaya village.
Having loved my time there, I would like to see more developments and improvements at Pakati, including to the Science education there. I feel if the lab was better equipped, they could teach individual Sciences – Physics, Chemistry, Biology – and perhaps several other subjects – up to A level there. In addition, more and better IT equipment would improve all aspects of education at both Pakati schools.
I moved to Zimre Park, in thr Harare suburbs, in February 2019, where l was going to serve as a housemaid. One Sunday in May, l had an encounter with Tanyaradzwa, a sister to Blessed Tema. He was the Headboy at Pakati Secondary, a friend and also a brother to me. l was surprised and filled with joy to meet her, since it was a long time without seeing each other.
She asked several questions without giving me any room to answer. “Do you stay here in Zimre, where are you going, what about O level results l know you were that bright to make it, are going to school or working?”. It was my off-day and l was on my way from church in Ruwa. l was alarmed and astonished with her questions. I asked myself why Tanya is much concerned with my life, my future indeed. I decided to lie to her that l just visited my aunt and l gave her house number.
The following day she came to work house and l told her the whole story. She said, “Portia do you want to go to A level?” I answered her with a big “YES”.
“Portia, leave everything to me ok, it will be fine with you alright. I have a brother who works at Rose of Sharon High School, he is a chaplain there. Tanya came back after lunch hour and said she had spoken to her brother. He had said that l have to go there on my own.
l went there on a Tuesday morning to meet him. He said that you are lucky the Director of Education, Dr Fatima Maruta is here in her office we can go to her with your story, after asking me few questions like where are my parents, what drove me to be a maid whilst l have passed my O levels.
Upon meeting Dr Maruta, my eyes flooded with tears. I saw her removing her spectacles to mop up tears down her cheek after hearing my story. Without wasting much time she said,”Portia, l offer you a full scholarship till you reach your destination, so tomorrow come prepared for schooling”. She jotted down all the necessities and the following day everything was there complete school uniforms of high quality and stationery.
l moved in to Rose of Sharon on 8 May 2019. Everything happened seemed as if l was acting or dreaming, l didn’t know or believe that l deserved something better, even more than that to be offered a full scholarship at a boarding school, not least because from me being a village girl from a rural day school at Pakati Secondary.”
Wow. I don’t know about you, dear reader, but as I was compiling this, I definitely had a tear in my eye…very moving indeed. There are, apparently, more parts to come in Portia’s story – life at Rose of Sharon, social life, and her ambitions for the future. Certainly a lot to look forward to!
At the Shavanhowe river, close to Pakati Primary school
Other matters..
• I have more to come from Debbie Chadbon about her planned fundraising
• Oscar Bumhe, Chairman of the road project committee at Murewa Rural District Council, about the ongoing development in Ward 14.
• There are also other stories still being prepared for publishing in the near future
