Tafara Chibanda
A SEVERE hailstorm struck late Tuesday night left a trail of destruction at Hughes Primary School in Dema.
The storm, which hit at around 11pm, destroyed the roofs of two school blocks and five classrooms, including an the infants’ block, and the Roman Catholic church located within the school premises.
In an interview with H-Metro, the school’s headmaster, Ephraim Madzudzu, revealed the extent of the damage and shared the school’s immediate response to the crisis.
“We are making plans to renovate the school and, in the meantime, we have decided to implement a hot-sitting arrangement for the students.
“The younger grades, including the infants, will start their lessons from 7:30am to 11am, while the upper grades will attend school from 12pm to 4pm.”
Madzudzu said the school authorities had a meeting with the School Development Committee (SDC) to discuss the next steps.
“We’re taking quotations to understand the cost of repairs.
“The strong winds were a natural event and, unfortunately, the winds were unavoidable,” he said.
The ICT specialist at the school, Mr Kufarimani, echoed Madzudzu’s sentiments.
“This incident has certainly affected our daily business but we’re not stopping. School is continuing as best as we can,” said Karimani.
“Considering the ongoing rains, we are urgently appealing for support so that our children can return to a safe and secure learning environment,” he said.
Parents of students at the school also voiced their concerns about the situation.
One parent, Adiola Chatikuta, said:
“We understand that this was an act of nature and we are grateful that no one was hurt. However, it is critical for our children to have a safe and comfortable environment to learn from.
“We are hopeful that the school authorities will take the necessary steps to rebuild.”
Another parent, Danai Ruongwe, said:
“The storm has caused a lot of disruption, but we are appealing to well-wishers, local businesses, and the community to assist in renovating the school.
“Our children need a proper place to learn, especially with the rains which are now upon us.”