shloboe boe
Raymond Jaravaza and Flora Fadzai Sibanda, Chronicle Writers
THE heart of Bulawayo bustled with activity yesterday as parents, guardians, and learners thronged the city’s streets and pick-up points in a last-minute dash to prepare for the 2025 school calendar, which begins today.
The annual back-to-school rush injected life into the city’s economy, with businesses and vendors cashing in on the surge in demand for school supplies and services. Many parents, burdened with bulging shopping bags, jostled through the crowded streets to grab the last items on their checklists.
Shops selling stationery, uniforms, and school bags were packed to capacity, while vendors along the pavements displayed essential school items, hoping to attract hurried buyers.
“This is our busiest time of the year. Parents are buying in bulk, and we’re working tirelessly to meet their demands,” said a shop attendant at a popular uniform shop.
The bustling city centre was mirrored in banking halls, where parents and guardians queued to pay school fees. The air was filled with a mix of excitement and anxiety as learners clutched new school bags, ready to embark on another academic year.
The City Hall area was a hive of activity as buses lined up to ferry learners to boarding schools across the region. Long queues formed, with some buses already filled, forcing parents to wait for additional transport.
The scramble for transport saw some boarding schools outsourcing buses from local institutions such as Amhlophe High School in Pumula East, Townsend High School in Ilanda, and Mpumelelo Primary School in Mpopoma.
One man assisting parents with loading groceries onto a Thekwane High School truck said: “The truck will leave first, and the bus will follow shortly. Our goal is to get to the school before lunchtime.”
While the excitement of a new school year was profound, some parents expressed concerns about the rainy weather affecting travel to rural schools.
Mrs Judith Sibanda, whose daughter attends Tsholotsho High School, said, “We’re praying for the rains to hold off until our children arrive safely. The road from Bulawayo to Tsholotsho has several streams that the bus must cross, and heavy rains could pose a challenge.”
Mr Patrick Ngulube, a guardian to a Form Two pupil at Thekwane High School, echoed similar sentiments. “I hope the rains start in the late afternoon after the school bus has safely arrived in Plumtree,” he said.
For many parents, the back-to-school period is not just about logistics but also financial sacrifices.
Mrs Thandekile Dube, who has two daughters at Usher High School, shared her struggle: “I had to apply for a payment plan so both my daughters could be accepted at school. As a parent, I’ve done my part, and now it’s up to them to work hard and succeed.”
Mrs Sihle Bhebhe, whose son is starting Form Three at Ekusileni High School after transferring from a day school, said she was optimistic about the new academic environment.
Despite the challenges, the mood at the City Hall parking lot was one of optimism. Parents and learners alike expressed hope for a successful academic year.
“We came early, but the line is still long. I hope we’ll make it on time before the school gates close,” said Mr Nkosana Sibanda, whose son is starting Form One at JZ Moyo High School in West Nicholson, Gwanda.
A Form Four learner from Inyathi High School, excited about her final year, said, “Preparing for exams starts today. I’m determined to focus on my studies and make my parents proud.”
