06 Sep 2023

The Zwenshambe village leadership and Zwenshambe Primary School management have joined hands to celebrate the school’s 85th anniversary on March 2024.

Speaking in an interview, the Chairperson of the Zwenshambe Primary School 85th Anniversary Coordinating Committee, Mr Stanley Mapiki, said the event was poised to mark the contribution of the school over the years in building a knowledge-based economy geared towards transforming the culture and lives of Zwenshambe community and surrounding villages through education.

Mr Mapiki said the school’s 85th anniversary would be commemorated with several events to mark the school’s history.

The event themed: “Celebrating the history and envisioning the future of Zwenshambe Primary School,’’ Mr Mapiki said, would focus on the school’s history, particularly that the school started on the knowledge based economy and mind-set change a long time ago.

He said the ceremony would also feature public addresses by designated guests and entertainment.

The nine-member coordinating committee, Mr Mapiki said, was selected by Zwenshambe Kgosi, working together with the Village Development Committee and the school management and were working around the clock to mobilise people and raise funds for the event.

Almost 50 per cent of the coordinating committee members, he said, were based in Zwenshambe, whilst two were based in Gaborone, one in Maun and another one in Boteti.

Therefore, to ensure success of the event, Mr Mapiki said, “currently we have started raising funds towards the main event and we have opened an account at Absa bank in Masunga, for people to channel their contributions there. But, we also welcome contributions, in kind.”

“So, we are planning a high profile class event where we will also be celebrating the school’s achievements alongside its contribution and history,” he added.

Mr Mapiki said five sub-committees, at various towns and villages, were established in Maun, Boteti, Francistown, Palapye and Gaborone to try and spearhead preparations for the main event. Each of these sub-committees, he said, also had a treasurer, secretary and chairperson.

Giving a brief background of the school, since its inception in 1939, Mr Mapiki said over the years the school had transitioned well, pointing out that the school’s mandate of seeking excellence in its activities, as a hallmark of its historic milestone, was evident.

When the school first opened its doors to pupils, for formal education, he said, there were no chairs or tables for pupils to sit on, ‘but boasts of having produced several professors, senior government officers, businessmen of note, book publishers and talented arts and culture role models.’ ENDS