Poor Facilities, Lack of Books Crippling Zimbabwe EducationMUTARE — Manicaland provincial administrator Fungai Mbetsa says while Zimbabwe is highly rated in literacy levels, the country’s education sector needs to be revamped. Citing the sorry state of most schools in the province, Mbetsa on Tuesday said more money needs to be invested in the sector if the country is to remain at the top of other African nations in terms of education. Mbetsa said the quality of education in the country is being compromised by poor infrastructure and the unavailability of relevant text books and teaching materials. He said close to 40 schools in Buhera district, Manicaland province, remain unregistered, adding about a dozen more in Makoni district are in dire need of assistance. He said more should be done to channel funds from the education transition to help poor schools, particularly in the rural areas, Mbetsa made the comments while handing over a new technology centre at Sakubva Library in Mutare. He called on local authorities to forge partnerships with corporate organisations to improve learning centres and facilities in their areas. The provincial administrator said communities should also invest in the education of their children. He said companies and organizations should emulate Old Mutual Private Limited, which sponsored the construction of the technology centre. He said the centre would go a long way towards providing quality education and access to the internet and new media technologies to the community. Old Mutual chief executive officer Charles Mangosho promised the company will continue to plough back into communities in the country to help nurture future leaders who are knowledgeable, not only about the country, but the global village that has become the world today. Simon Mashababe, standing in for town clerk Obert Muzawazi, said the city of Mutare is grateful to Old Mutual for the technology centre, adding the local authority will do all it can to ensure it is well maintained and that many benefit from it.