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Bulawayo’s KG6 Centre perfects inclusive learning

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BY NYASHA MUTIZWA

Laura Mukwauri (17) types at lightning speed on her laptop.

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Not with her fingers, but with a pen held in between her teeth, stabilized with her tongue.

The A-Level student has limited use of her hands due to cerebral palsy, a condition that affects the joints in her limbs.

In pecking motion, she types away the finishing touches to her book, Once Upon A Life.

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The piece was written while the business administration student was simultaneously writing her ordinary level examinations and passing with flying colours.

“It’s a book about my life as a person with cerebral palsy.

“It is my journey to learning and accepting that my dreams are valid,” says the teenager as her eyes sparkle with optimism.

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Laura is a student at King George VI Centre (KG6) in the city of Bulawayo.

As a child with special education needs (SEN), Laura would ordinarily learn at an institution specifically catering to children with learning or physical disabilities.

However, she was schooled under the strategy of inclusive education meaning she learned and developed at the same pace as her able-bodied peers.

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It is under this principle that the aspiring author has learnt the most important lesson of her life: her advancement and her aspirations, just like any other child, have no limits.

Inclusive education refers to a model wherein SEN students such as Laura learn with general education needs students.

It is built on the notion that it is more effective for them to have said mixed experience to be more successful in social interactions leading to further success in life.

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Schools with inclusive classrooms do not believe in the separation of students, however, special assistance can be provided for learners who require it.

KG6 is one of few institutions in Zimbabwe practicing the inclusive education learning strategy.

The Unicef-supported school used to be categorised as a special school.

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However, it has progressively adopted the inclusive strategy, now enrolling 70 percent of students with physically disabilities while 30 percent are non-disabled.

This way of learning allows Laura and the over 85,500 children with disabilities across the country, to learn the same curriculum and at the same pace as their able-bodied counterparts – all abilities, one education.

Headmistress, Persevere Hadebe, believes that the integration creates more accommodating members of society.

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She says, “Laura has cerebral palsy, but she communicates with her peer who cannot hear.

“The student with no known disability, pushes her friend in the wheelchair through the playground at breaktime.

“They all learn that a disability does not mean inability in the classroom.

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“They see this with Laura for example, one of our star pupils despite her condition.

“The children learn to treat each other equally.”

According to the 2013 Living Conditions among Persons with Disability Survey (LCPDS), it was estimated that more than 75 percent of children of school-going age with disabilities were out of school in 2012.

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This was mainly due to factors such as illness or financial constraints.

For others, it was fear of abuse, discrimination and cultural beliefs that insist that disability is a curse – as was the case with Laura.

“Upon learning of Laura’s diagnosis, her mother abandoned the family believing that her daughter was bewitched.

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“ She left the father to fend for Laura and her three siblings.

“It is this type of thinking and discrimination that inclusive education seeks to rectify at community level,” the headmistress concludes.

Matters of acceptance and inclusion have been taken up at a national scale. Under the principle of ‘Nothing about us, without us’, the Primary and Secondary Education ministry in partnership with Unicef worked with organisations representing Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to draft the National Disability Policy.

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Launched in June 2021, the document seeks to address the marginalisation and discrimination of PWDs from the industries right down to the classroom.

Though a wonderful concept, inclusive classrooms do not come without their challenges.

They require multi-skilled, adaptable, and flexible educators.

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In the same lesson, the teacher must be able to assist the child with a physical disability, effectively communicate with the learner with Down’s Syndrome while teaching in sign language to the deaf student.

“It is not easy creating activities that include all students. It is also challenging to teach compassion to children and equally to parents,” said Lomaswati Mavhangira, Laura’s teacher and the KG6 centre administrator.

“A lack of adaptive equipment for the blind or adaptable language for the deaf, makes it difficult for teachers to lead.

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“Sometimes we do not have teacher aides for those with severe disabilities.

“Additionally, we need to create lesson plans that enable each student to follow the curriculum and ultimately have a united classroom.”

To counter these challenges, Unicef and the Primary and Secondary Education ministry released the Inclusive Education Handbook in 2019. Developed through support from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) and the Education Development Fund (EDF), the handbook provides practical guidance on inclusive education for teachers.

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To date, over 39,000 copies have been distributed to over 9,500 schools in Zimbabwe.

In addition, the government has designed a rollout plan for inclusive education trainings for all teachers in Zimbabwe.

However, the programme has been delayed by the Covid-19 induced lockdowns and subsequent school closures.

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The government of Zimbabwe in partnership with Unicef, hopes to make inclusive and quality education a reality for more children with disabilities.

It already is for Laura, who hopes to publish* Once Upon A Life *after completing her final examinations at the end of 2021.

“You can buy my first copy!” she says with an infectious smile. – Unicef

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Hwange

Victoria Falls man arraigned for murder in water dispute case

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BY WANDILE TSHUMA 

A 38-year-old man known as “Spraga,” appeared in the Victoria Falls Magistrates’ Court last week to face murder charges following the death of a 17-year-old boy.

The accused, who formal name is Tinashe Wireless Nyarukokora appeared before the resident magistrate Linda Dzvene.

The allegations indicate that on 12 August, Nyarukokora was involved in an altercation with the deceased concerning water access at the Victoria Falls wastewater treatment ponds.

The situation escalated in the early hours of 13 August when the deceased, returning home from drinking in Chinotimba, encountered Nyarukokora again at the same location.

Reports allege that during this encounter, Nyarukokora assaulted the victim with a wooden log and an electric cable before strangling him to death.

After realizing the boy had died, Nyarukokora reportedly disposed of the body in a nearby sewer pond, approximately 15 meters from the site of the attack, and subsequently fled the scene.

On 16 August 2025, a worker conducting routine inspections at the treatment ponds found the victim’s body floating.

Police investigations linked Nyarukokora to the crime after a witness reported hearing the victim cry out in distress, specifically calling the accused’s name, “Spraga, Spraga, why are you strangling me?”

The court has remanded the case for further proceedings, scheduled for 3 September 2025.

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In the community

Calls for youth-centric health services echo at Victoria Falls budget consultation

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

Last week on Friday, the City of Victoria Falls convened a meeting with the junior council and youths at Chinotimba Clinic to gather input for the 2026 budget.

The event sparked lively discussions on various topics, ranging from health services to transparency in project allocations, reflecting the hopes and challenges faced by the city’s youth.

One of the prominent voices at the meeting was Naison Mbedane, who passionately advocated for the establishment of a youth corner within the health center.

“We need a youth corner the same way that you are serving women, where they have their safe spaces to get help on health issues,” Mbedane said.

He expressed frustration over the stigma surrounding health issues, particularly sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

“If there is a youth corner where I can talk to a young nurse in confidence, it will make a significant difference. Many of my peers suffer in silence and fail to seek treatment due to privacy concerns.”

The issue of transparency in council projects also surfaced, as Ndabiqondile Zwelinjani emphasized the necessity for clear communication in project allocations.

Zwelinjani challenged the council to engage with youths at the ward level when distributing project opportunities.

“Let’s say you want to give 200 youths stands. Why not come to the wards and collect our applications? Development must be transparent; everyone deserves a fair chance,” he stated, highlighting the potential for corruption if the process remains opaque.

Lyle Magama, the junior council finance director from Mosi Oa Tunya High School, brought attention to the challenges faced by junior councillors.

She noted the program’s noble intentions to foster future leaders but critiqued the lack of support and clarity regarding their roles. “While we conducted a few workshops, more guidance would have been beneficial. I believe future junior councillors should be provided with uniforms and mentorship to help them succeed,” Magama suggested.

“We faced setbacks due to limited knowledge and guidance, which led to frustration. We blamed the council for not being supportive, but maybe we weren’t transparent enough about our needs.”

A presentative from Youth Invest organisation suggested for council to incoporate programs that will be championed and fit into the youths needs on climate solutions after the city was granted a wetland city status as the just ended cop 15.

In response to some issues especially of projects of 2026, the council’s chamber secretary Kholwani Mangena said: “Before concluding the 2026 budget, I suggest we meet next week (this week) to break down our goals. Let’s discuss what we want to achieve in 2026 and what we didn’t accomplish in 2025. We can identify tasks that can be completed within two weeks. I’m open to scheduling a meeting to outline our objectives.

Additionally, I’d like to propose that council members who aren’t re-elected can serve as advisors to the current council. This way, we can leverage their expertise and experience.

There are many initiatives that don’t require funding, such as career days for young people. Let’s explore ways to utilize our resources and talent effectively.”

She said council wholeheartedly support youth initiatives, and is committed to ensuring that they growth as this is part of their mandate to nurture and support development.

 

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In the community

Matabeleland North launches $250K fundraising campaign against drug abuse

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BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI 

In a decisive move to address the escalating problem of drug and substance abuse, the government of has initiated a fundraising campaign in Matabeleland North Province with a target of $250 000.

The event will take place today at the Edmund Davis Hall in Hwange, focusing on raising funds and awareness to support youth rehabilitation efforts in the region.

Richard Moyo, the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Matabeleland North, is spearheading this initiative.

In a recent interview with VicFallsLive, he emphasized the critical need for this campaign, stating, “The rise in drug and substance abuse among our youth is a major concern. We have seen children lose their lives and future because of addiction. This fundraising effort is essential to provide them with the help they need.”

Moyo addressed the need for government intervention, explaining that the cabinet committee on drug and substance abuse has taken significant steps to confront this crisis. “The committee has appointed chairpersons in each of the ten provinces to coordinate efforts against substance abuse. We must act now before the problem escalates further,” he added.

The background of drug abuse in Zimbabwe indicates a troubling pattern. Research shows a significant rise in substance use, particularly among unemployed youth and school dropouts. Moyo noted, “Many of our children are resorting to these substances as a way to cope with their circumstances. They often end up living on the streets, where they are exposed to even harsher realities. We want them to be occupied, and we will build rehab centers and hire people who will help them to quit the addiction because this is more common amongst the 2K children.”

Highlighting the importance of community involvement, Moyo called on local businesses and organizations to support the campaign. “We are appealing to all companies, particularly hotels and businesses in our province, to join us in this fight. Together, we can create a supportive environment for our children. Our president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, launched a nationwide initiative two months ago, and now, it’s time for Matabeleland North to take action,” he said.

Moyo further elaborated on the fundraising goal, stating that the $250 000 will be directed towards establishing rehabilitation centers and hiring experienced therapists. “These facilities will offer a second chance to those battling addiction. Our youth deserve the opportunity to rebuild their lives,” he emphasized.

Despite acknowledging that Matabeleland North’s drug problem may not be as severe as in other provinces, Moyo maintained that the issue is still significant, particularly in urban areas. “Here, we see children turning to drugs like marijuana, often sold by those who exploit their vulnerability. We must protect our children and provide them with the support they need to thrive,” he concluded.

The community’s response to this fundraising campaign will be pivotal in shaping a positive future for the youth of Matabeleland North, offering hope and resources for recovery and reintegration into society.

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