IN today’s world it is hard to come by a person who does anything without targeting the precious dollar.
Hardlife Samuwi
Money comes first, seems to be today’s motto. But for Jethro Chifamba, the future of the young genetration comes first and everything else, including money, comes last.
Chifamba was born on August 07 1968 in Gutu where he attended primary school at Machingambi School in Gutu where he proved to be a very bright student.
Despite such humble beginnings, Chifamba has stolen the hearts of many, especially children at primary school level and their parents. The humble man is a full-time teacher and deputy headmaster at Kamwa Primary School in Gokwe North.
As a concerned father, he started conducting holiday lessons for free in 2010 at his home in Budiriro, Harare, where he started with only four pupils.
“What I just want is to see children getting better education, that’s my concern,” Chifamba told Newsday.
“My major concern is on the future of the youngsters. So it pains me most because I do understand that many teachers are no longer taking study lessons for these children seriously,” he lamented.
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He went on: “The generation of today’s teachers thinks that children must be born with natural intelligence.”
Chifamba also gave NewsDay the example of a pupil (name withheld) who was about to be chucked out of school because teachers were saying that pupil was “blank”, meaning the child was not intelligent. That same pupil was then brought to Chifamba and the latter said the former was now doing very well in his studies.
NewsDay tracked down the pupil to hear more from the parents and they said they were happy with their son as his performance had improved remarkably.
“We handed our son over to Mr Chifamba. That man is a very good teacher,” said the boys father.
He added: “We wish our country had many more teachers like him. I think our education sector would be better.”
“My son goes to school in Mhondoro, but during the holidays I always make sure he comes back to take lessons with this superb teacher,” he said.
Besides teaching them in academics, Chifamba also teaches the pupils how to play mbira, marimba and drums.
NewsDay also spoke to some of the students who attend Simbi Remedy Centre, who described Chifamba as a very good teacher.
“I wish there were many more teachers of this calibre. There is no doubt we would achieve better grades,” said one of the students, Kennie Chipanga.
The school was named Simbi Remedy Centre, a name that speaks volumes of results.
“Any student who goes there would produce better results,” said Mr Chauluka, a resident in the suburb.
Chifamba said he was not after money, but basically the education of the pupils.
He said the pupils paid R4 a day and that money was for buying stationery, adding that those who cannot afford to pay take lessons for free, especially orphans.
“I am now looking for a better space to conduct our lessons. Where we are now, there is a lot of noise, that’s why we have decided to look for a quiet place,” Chifamba said.
Chifamba, whose number of students is just under 100, said some of the students came from as far as Borrowdale and Chisipite.
“They come here for lessons and not that it’s free. I placed myself in the shoes of those pupils and understood what they missed or lacked.”
Chifamba built up a makeshift classroom at his house to help his community.
