Lochinvar’s Crumbling Classrooms: School Head, Parents Plead for Urgent Government Intervention

By Regina Pasipanodya

In Harare’s Highglen District, Lochinvar Primary School is a quiet witness to Zimbabwe’s educational history.

However, one of its oldest classroom blocks, built in the 1960s with timber boards, is no longer a hallmark of excellence.

It has turned into a serious hazard.

Infested with termites and weakened over the years, this block holds six Grade 1 and 2 classes, serving nearly 300 students and six teachers.

The structure visibly sags.

Holes in the wallboards, ceiling, and roof shake with every gust of wind.

The timber boards, once strong, now dangle like loose teeth in a decaying jaw.In an interview with Zimba Wave News, teachers shared their ongoing fear that the roof might collapse during lessons.

“I don’t know how this will be fixed, but honestly, we are scared,” said one Grade 1 teacher who wished to remain anonymous. “Every creak in the timber feels like a warning.”

A Pattern of Neglect

Lochinvar’s situation is not unique.In March 2023, a tragedy occurred at Globe and Phoenix Primary School in Kwekwe.

A classroom block fell into a mine shaft, injuring 14 students and forcing the suspension of all school activities.

Likewise, Dalny Mine 2 Primary School in Sanyati faces an impending collapse because artisanal miners are digging tunnels beneath its classrooms.

This puts 600 students and 22 teachers at risk.

These incidents highlight a concerning trend: vulnerable schools, often in underserved communities, are left to manage on their own until disaster strikes.

Others, like Lochinvar, endure ongoing neglect and postponed infrastructure reviews.

A Call for Urgent Intervention

At Lochinvar, the newly appointed Headmaster Mr. Lawrence Madzvanda, who took over after the previous head retired in December, confronts a tough situation.

The condemned block, inspected by public works officials, is still in use because there are no alternatives.

“So far, no repairs have been made, and no alternative learning spaces have been offered. I just hope the government or our partners will step in to protect the children before it’s too late,” Mr. Madzvanda told Zimba Wave News.

Parents are already stretched thin.

They are working on building a new block for ECD learners who currently have lessons in a school hall separated by timber boards.

“We are involved in another project, which makes it hard to raise funds for this block,” said School Development Committee Chairperson Mr. Kevin Magaya.

“We are in a crisis and we hope the government will act because it’s about the safety of the Grade 1 and 2 students whose classroom block could collapse at any moment,” added Magaya.

Budget Promises vs. Reality

The block’s decline raises pressing questions: Are infrastructure audits taking place regularly? How are budget priorities set? And why are students still learning in unsafe buildings?

This is concerning, especially since the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education received a significant allocation of about ZiG$46.6 billion in the 2025 National Budget, as announced by Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube.

The education sector was one of the top beneficiaries of the ZiG$276.4 billion budget, indicating the government’s commitment to improving learning conditions.

Yet at Lochinvar, that commitment is not evident.

Attempts to get a statement from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Communications Department were unsuccessful.

Director Taungana Ndoro mentioned he was unavailable and referred us to his deputy, Mr. Patrick Zumbo, who initially promised to confirm with the school first and respond but later declined our follow-up call.

For Grade 1 learners just starting their educational journey and Grade 2 students preparing for foundational literacy, classrooms should be filled with excitement, not fear.

Yet at Lochinvar, every school day starts with uncertainty.

As Zimbabwe gears up for future educational reforms, Lochinvar Primary serves as a striking reminder that no child should learn under the threat of collapse.