A community-led effort to build a new secondary school at Shigamba Pipeline has drawn praise from Mbeya District Council Chairperson Aida Haule, who joined residents in digging the foundation of the long-awaited project.
Ms Haule, who is also the councillor for Utengule Usongwe Ward, joined dozens of residents, including young people, women and elderly people, who turned up to contribute their labour to the construction project.
The initiative comes after the Government allocated Sh583 million for construction of the school, which is expected to ease the burden on students who currently travel long distances to access secondary education.
The project has been welcomed by residents who say the absence of a nearby secondary school has for years forced children to walk long distances to schools in other areas.
Speaking after taking part in the foundation excavation, Ms Haule said the residents’ determination to contribute to the project had moved her to join them in the work.
“When I arrived and saw residents from different groups volunteering their labour to dig the foundation of this school, I felt it was important for me to join them. This shows how much the community has longed for a school in this area,” she said.
She said the community’s participation demonstrated a strong sense of ownership of the project and urged residents to maintain the spirit throughout its implementation.
Mbalizi Hamlet Chairperson Paul Mwampamba said the construction of the school had brought residents together because of its importance to children in the area.
He said students from the area had been travelling to schools such as Juhudi and Usongwe secondary schools, with some walking long distances every day.
“Having a secondary school closer to their homes will reduce the distance students travel and help address some of the challenges they face on their way to and from school,” Mr Mwampamba said.
Special Seats Councillor for Usongwe Division Fatma Issa described the residents’ participation as a sign of their commitment to development and willingness to work with local leaders.
She urged the community to continue supporting the project to ensure the school is completed on time and starts serving students as planned.
The school is expected to serve about 41,904 residents in areas surrounding Shigamba Pipeline, improving access to secondary education and reducing the distance students have to travel to school.