Sanyati District clusters launched the ‘Not In My School’ campaign on Friday, bringing a critical national safety initiative directly into local classrooms and communities.
The rollout extends the momentum from March’s national launch in Sanyati, putting the district on track to implement the “Safe to Learn” framework at the school level.
The campaign serves as Zimbabwe’s local implementation of the global “Safe to Learn” initiative, a multi-partner programme launched in 2019 to end violence in and around schools.
Officials emphasised that schools must be spaces of protection if learning is to take hold, responding to a growing demand for inclusive environments.
Speaking at Mupamombe Primary School, Sanyati district remedial tutor Colleter Sixpence described the initiative as a government-led effort to curb bullying, gangsterism, and abuse.
“The goal is to end school-related violence within five years, especially for the most marginalised children,” she said, noting that violence directly hinders attendance and mental health.
The strategy involves a collaborative approach between UN agencies, civil society, and local teachers.
At Munhumutapa Primary School, Schools Inspector Machinda Magwegwe — representing district schools I\inspector Joseph Majasi — stressed the “whole-government” nature of the rollout.
The campaign integrates the health department and police to tackle drug abuse, early child marriages, and gender-based violence.
Magwegwe said school safety was linked to national security and human capital, stating that improved safety leads to better pass rates and employment prospects.
Learners also took a leading role in the day’s events. Learners Mallen Musiiwa, Liyah Mitepa, and Ethel Ndawana asserted their right to a safe education: “No learner should feel scared to come to school because of how they look or who they are,” they said.
The launch was marked by a student march from the Rimuka roundabout to Rumwe shopping centre, with children carrying banners calling for an end to violence.
The event was attended by various government, education, and health officials.
