Mahwindi for Economic Development Pays Fees for 150 Vulnerable Pupils in Mutare

Mahwindi4ED pays school fees for 150 vulnerable pupils in Mutare’s Sakubva and Dangamvura suburbs (image source)

A ZANU-PF affiliate, Mahwindi for Economic Development (Mahwindi4ED), has paid school fees for 150 vulnerable learners across 10 government primary schools in Mutare, easing immediate financial pressure on struggling families in the high-density suburbs of Sakubva and Dangamvura. The payments, made on Friday by the organisation’s Manicaland chapter, covered 15 pupils at each school and totalled more than US$8,000.

Beneficiaries in Sakubva were drawn from Zamba, Sakubva, Dangare, Chisamba and Mutanda primary schools, while Dangamvura recipients came from Rujeko, Sheni, Gimboki, Dangamvura and Chirovakanwe primary schools. The initiative was led by former Mutare Central MP Esau Mupfumi, ZANU-PF Mutare district coordinating committee secretary for education Shepherd Jojo, Mahwindi4ED adviser Jealous Mukorera and the organisation’s chairperson Herman Nyika.

Mahwindi4ED officials said the programme responds to rising school dropouts and drug abuse among children who are unable to attend classes because of unpaid fees. Jealous Mukorera told NewsDay the group mobilised resources after recognising that unpaid fees were pushing some children into risky behaviours. “As Mahwindi for Economic Development, we managed to raise money and have paid school fees for 150 schoolchildren. Since we are still starting, we are going to grow bigger in the coming school terms,” Mukorera said.

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Organisers emphasised that the intervention is intended to be the start of a broader support programme. Herman Nyika said future phases will include the provision of stationery and other learning materials, and that the group is open to working with other stakeholders to expand impact. School heads who received the assistance on behalf of learners expressed gratitude, noting the payments will help keep vulnerable pupils in class and reduce the risk of dropouts.

Mahwindi4ED leaders also addressed allegations that the group is violent, dismissing the claims as mischaracterisations. Mukorera said the organisation’s work is centred on community support and development and that the name Mahwindi should not be conflated with violent behaviour. “We are not violent; it is just a name people gave us. We help people and we are ready to assist communities in line with Vision 2030,” he said.

Community advocates welcomed the immediate relief but urged that such interventions be complemented by systemic measures to reduce school fees burdens and improve social protection. Education stakeholders noted that one-off fee payments are valuable but that sustainable solutions require coordinated action from government, local authorities, NGOs and community groups to address the root causes of school non-attendance.

The Mahwindi4ED initiative highlights how local civic actors and political affiliates can mobilise resources quickly to meet urgent needs. Observers say the challenge will be to scale such efforts and ensure transparency, targeting and long-term support so that short-term relief translates into sustained educational outcomes for vulnerable children.