Rimbi shakes Harare

BY ARTWELL CHINGWARA SITHOLE

DRIVING past Rimbi Primary School, one would see an encription of the following words: “DEEDS BUT NOT WORDS.” Painted in blue and white, they promise action.

This week, that promise walked off the signpost and into Harare.While winter kept some kids huddled at home, Rimbi Primary’s learners packed their bags for the Zimbabwe International Research Symposium to participate.

Manicaland Province had “top class” schools with laboratories and high budgets. Rimbi had no such. The school exhibited a fire alert gadget built by small hands. No fancy university lab. Just “deeds, not words” made of wire, code, and courage.

The gadget attracted the attentiob of His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa when he was inspecting the exhibitions in the hall.The President of Zimbabwe, standing over a fire alert gadget built by children from rural Chipinge. He asked questions and the kids, who once only spoke to their teacher, were now explaining innovation to the Head of State.

For a moment, a “rural school” didn’t mean a “forgotten school” but a “future school.”As if one Rimbi wasn’t enough, Rimbi High School was there too. Also representing Manicaland.And they didn’t just participate. They conquered. Rimbi High scooped First Prize at National Level. Gold. Number 1 in Zimbabwe.

Despite Manicaland having elite schools and Harare hving plenty resources, the story was written in Chipinge ink this year.Rimbi proved that one does not need a city postcode to solve national problems. It only need sharp minds.