For years, school trips at Landa J Nkomo High School were defined by resilience rather than comfort, a reality headmaster Evans Guri remembers all too well.
Guri recalled an incident in 2023 when the school’s under-15 boys’ and girls’ teams were excelling on the pitch, rising through zonal, district, provincial and eventually national competitions, despite severe transport challenges.
With no proper school bus, the teams were forced to travel in a truck that had been converted into a makeshift bus by adding seats.
“Despite travelling in the makeshift bus, they played their hearts out, making us proud and wishing the school could secure proper transport to ferry the pupils on such occasions,” Guru said.
Guru said the difficult journeys are now set to become a thing of the past after the school took delivery of a 75-seater UD bus donated by businessman Wicknell Chivayo.
The commissioning of the bus brought joy to the Tsholotsho community, which has endured years of hardship and poverty while striving to give children access to quality education.
Guri said the late vice president John Landa Nkomo’s vision of education for all will continue to soar and be fully implemented through the donation.
For learners, the bus represents more than transport.
Head girl Sithandazile Ndebele said it the new bus would open the door to educational trips that had previously been difficult to organise.
“We are happy and excited as students to receive the bus as it will now be easy for us to travel for educational tours, which have become an integral part of the curriculum,” Ndebele said.
“Travelling to compete in sports and other extra-curricular activities will now become more enjoyable.”.
The bus was officially handed over to the school by Vice President Kembo Mohadi in Harare last Tuesday, ahead of the commissioning ceremony held at the school.
A parent, Nonhlanhla Ndlovu, said securing a bus had been a dream for years.
“This is a dream come true, having our own transport will make it easy for the pupils to focus on their studies and excel in sport as they will travel in comfort, giving them a boost in confidence,” Ndlovu said.
Zanu PF district coordinating committee chairman Ronald Tshuma, who represented National Housing and Social Amenities deputy minister Musa Ncube, thanked President Emmerson Mnangagwa for supporting the John Landa Nkomo Memorial Trust, which played a key role in facilitating the donation.
“The late VP’s vision must not die and we should all make efforts in ensuring it stays alive,” Tshuma said.
John Landa Nkomo Memorial Trust chairman Jabu Nkomo, who is also the son of the late vice president, urged the community to take responsibility for maintaining the bus.
“As a trust, we will always carry on the late VP’s vision and wherever we get opportunities we will source goods and assist the school where we can.
“We won’t tire when we have people who help us like Sir Wicknell and we will carry on and assist the school,” he said.