MP Sibanda Hands Over Starlink Kit to Zumanana Secondary School
Thembelihle Mhlanga
Member of Parliament for Lupane West Constituency, Hon. Mxolisi Charles Sibanda, has handed over a Starlink satellite internet kit to Zumanana Secondary School in Ward 22, Binga, in a move aimed at improving digital access for learners and supporting teaching under Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum.
The handover followed a constituency feedback meeting held in Chisawa, where the MP met with traditional leaders, civic leaders and residents to discuss local development priorities. During the meeting, community members raised concerns over the condition of the road network, limited telecommunications coverage and persistent water shortages.
Addressing the meeting, MP Sibanda said the concerns raised by residents would guide his engagement in Parliament and local development initiatives.
“We cannot effectively plan or advocate for development from distant offices in urban centers without coming directly to the ground to listen to the people,” said MP Sibanda during the meeting. “The issues you have raised today—particularly regarding our bad roads, poor network connectivity, and the severe water shortage—are very clear. These are not just complaints; they form the core agenda of what we will actively push for in parliament and through local development initiatives.”
The Starlink internet kit was officially handed over to the school administration following the meeting. Zumanana Secondary School previously benefited from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which financed the construction of a classroom block and the provision of classroom furniture.
According to MP Sibanda, the satellite internet service is intended to improve access to online learning resources and research, in line with the requirements of Zimbabwe’s Heritage-Based Curriculum. He added that the internet connection would also be made available to members of the surrounding community, allowing the school to serve as a digital access point.
“Our students in rural areas must be given the exact same learning opportunities and digital resources as those in urban centers,” MP Sibanda stated during the handover ceremony. “This Starlink kit will allow learners and teachers to conduct research easily and keep pace with the demands of the Heritage-Based Curriculum. Beyond the school gates, we want the broader Chisawa community to benefit from this connectivity so that everyone can stay linked to information and opportunities.”
Students welcomed the donation, saying it would help address challenges associated with the high cost of mobile data and unreliable network coverage in the area.
“Gathering information for our continuous assessment learning activities has been extremely difficult and stressful because mobile data is very expensive,” said Tendai Moyo, a Form Four student at Zumanana Secondary School. “Our parents struggle to buy us data bundles on top of paying school fees. Having fast internet right here at school is a huge relief. It removes a heavy financial burden from our families and gives us the tools we need to study properly and pass our exams.”
Residents who attended the feedback meeting used the opportunity to highlight infrastructure and service delivery challenges affecting Ward 22. Among the issues raised were deteriorating roads, poor mobile network coverage and limited access to clean water, with community members calling for improvements to support livelihoods and economic development.
Traditional leaders attending the meeting said investments in both infrastructure and digital connectivity could contribute to improved education and broader community development in the area.
