Africa-Press – Botswana. Zwenshambe Primary School, older than the country it sits in, is set to celebrate its 85th birthday on March 23.
Like a wise grandparent witnessing the passage of generations, the school has stood firm against numerous changes and adversities.
As the village gears up for this significant milestone, it will pay tribute to the school’s enduring legacy and remarkable journey from its humble beginnings to the present day.
In its early years, Zwenshambe Primary School’s structures were rudimentarily built from poles, with locally crafted stools serving as seats for male students.
Female pupils, on the other hand, had to make do with grass mats for seating.
The pupils were required to bring their own seats to school, highlighting the challenges they had to overcome.
Scarce supplies like textbooks and exercise books were also a constant struggle, compelling learners to write on slates they carried to school – a makeshift solution in lieu of proper resources.
Moreover, even the residences provided to teaching staff were erected using traditional materials, reflecting the community’s reliance on self-help initiatives such as the Mephato and Letsema approach for development.
These anecdotes illustrate the resilience and resourcefulness that have defined Zwenshambe Primary School’s early years and laid the foundation for its current standing as a pillar of education in the village.
A school alumnus , former cabinet minister, Mr Charles Tibone, reminisced about the early days of education at Zwenshambe Primary School.
He described how the founding learners did not have desks and chairs in a traditional classroom setting but instead sat on the ground under a tree or inside a simple mud classroom, using slates and chalk for writing.
According to Mr Tibone, students would use slates as writing surfaces, jotting down their lessons with chalk.
He painted a vivid picture of a young student at Zwenshambe Primary School, clad in a khaki shirt and shorts, diligently working on his slate as sunlight filtered through the window.
During his time at the school in the mid 50s, Mr Tibone said that class sizes were small, typically fewer than 15 students per class.
If the number of students increased, the class would be split to accommodate everyone, with one group stationed at one corner of the classroom and the other at the opposite corner.
The upper-class pupis were housed in a substantial mud-built classroom structure, while the younger pupils, in what would be considered reception classes today, were taught under the shade of a tree.
Mr Khuchani, a South African native who had relocated to Botswana before independence, served as the dedicated headmaster of Zwenshambe Primary School during Mr Tibone’s time.
Reflecting on the changes over the years, Mr Tibone highlighted one significant transformation; the introduction of meals at school. In the past, pupils would go home for lunch, but now they are provided with meals on the school premises.
This shift symbolised the school’s evolution and its increased dedication to student well-being, he said
Despite operating on a modest budget in its early years, Zwenshambe Primary School has grown into a hub of education and community support, instilling hope and knowledge in its pupils.
Mr Tibone, now a successful businessman, praised the resilience and dedication of the Zwenshambe community and the Botswana government in fostering this educational environment.
Mr Stanley Mapiki, chairperson of the Zwenshambe Primary School 85th anniversary committee, pointed out the school’s rich history of producing accomplished alumni, including MPs and influential industry leaders.
“The school’s legacy of success continues to inspire current and future generations of pupils,” he said.
Former pupils of Zwenshambe Primary School, include, Obed Itani Chilume, Doctor Muzila Malikongwa, the incumbent MP for Tati West, Mr Simon Moabi, the current speaker of the national assembly, and former cabinet minister Mr Phandu Skelemani, among others.
According to Mr Mapiki, Zwenshambe Primary School has produced notable educators, professors, cabinet ministers, renowned authors whose works are now part of the national school syllabus, speakers of the national assembly, medical professionals, artists, farmers, and more.
This showcases the school’s significant contribution to the knowledge-based economy of not only Zwenshambe and its surrounding areas but the entire nation.
He expressed that the school’s alumni have excelled in various fields, with Mr Tibone standing out as a successful businessman.
Notable figures like President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi have been invited to the event for a keynote address and unveiling ceremony of a plaque on the school premises.
He highlighted that the event will showcase the achievements of pupils and the school’s evolution over the years, with special activities planned to honor this significant milestone and acknowledge the school’s impact on many lives.
Another speaker and vice chairperson, Mr Chilume Balopi said there was already a hype and excitement in Zwenshambe with residents promising to contribute in kind.
He said the committee mobilised different traditional groups across the district to participate at the event.
“We believe that we are on the right track and each of the seven wards will contribute and some of these ward have already delivered on their promise,” he added.
Mr Balopi, who is also a Councillor at Orapa mine, indicated that the day would also be marked of by an all-night entertainment by renowned artists in the likes of Kangangwani Mogocha aka Dr Vom and the local own Afro pop singer Lezibo Simon, who have confirmed their attendances.
He said already noticeable works were done at Zwenshambe primary school such as re-painting of school buildings.
The committee said the event is expected to attract over 3 000 guests and eight cattle, goats and cash have already been donated and that some of the cattle would be exchanged for cash towards the building of a multi-purpose centre in the school premises.
The idea is to make Zwenshambe primary school a cultural centre in the North East District and the committee is working on organising Zwenshambe pupil’s cultural festival this year.
According to available records, Zwenshambe Primary School was founded by two visionaries: Ms Palalani Mafa and Mr Phillip Chabale.
Initially serving as a Christian gathering center for the London Missionary Society, the school aimed to educate children in Christianity and foster literacy through studying the Holy Bible.
Both Ms Mafa and Mr Chabale, originally employed as salespeople at Khumalo Store in Dombodema village in what was then Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), underwent a conversion to Christianity.
Their association with the London Missionary Society in Rhodesia and Mr Chabale’s education at Tigerkloof in South Africa led them to inspire the Zwenshambe community to establish a primary school, repurposing the Christian center into an educational institution.
Driven by a shared vision and a spirit of self-reliance, the residents of Zwenshambe utilised initiatives such as Mephato and Letsema to construct the primary school.
Traditional materials like poles and thatched grass were used to create temporary mud classrooms, and some lessons even took place beneath the shade of trees on the school grounds.
Boys were instructed in manual skills, crafting classroom stools from local trees like Nkuthu, while women learned to make handbags from indigenous grasses.
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