United Family International Church (UFIC) led by Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa is this year set to construct a ‘state-of-the-art’ high school in Sunningdale.

The high school project, a first of its kind in Sunningdale, is being spearheaded by the church’s charity arm Agape Family Care which is led by the preacher’s wife Prophetess Ruth Makandiwa, who hails from Sunningdale.

Clearance for construction of the school has already been granted by Council and the Ministry of Education and construction at the site is set to commence soon after urban farmers who were using the space have harvested their crops.

Councillor for Sunningdale Ward 10 Hammy Madzingira said that residents were excited as the school will accommodate many students who have been made to travel long distances in order to further their education.  

“The church acquired 8.5 hectares which has been reserved over the years for the construction of a secondary school and we are happy that the church has come forward to build the school which we expect to open its doors by January 2018,”said Madzingira.

Madzingira went on to explain that the secondary school will bring relief to students requiring secondary education. “Secondary school children are travelling long distances due to lack of a secondary school here in Sunningdale. The two primary schools that we have in the area produce more than 500 grade sevens. Besides benefitting students, parents will also be relieved as they are currently being forced to pump out transport money on top of paying school fees.”

Spokesperson for UFIC Pastor Prime Kufa told Harare News that the high school will accommodate form one to six students, as per the high demand for these grades in the area.

“We have always been supporting education from the background through the Ruth Makandiwa scholarship where we pay fees for underprivileged children up to university level. We have also gone on to support existing schools by way of carrying out renovations, supplying books, helping with electrification, and putting up boreholes. But this is our first construction project and there are many of them lined up,” said Pastor Kufa.

Sunningdale resident Charity Mavheneke (46) said that the high school will bring relief to both parents and students who were being affected by the lack of a secondary school in the area.

“This is a good development and we hope that besides offering quality education to our children, the school will also inculcate the church’s good values into our children,” she said.