Goromonzi High School

Goromonzi High School is a secondary school located in Goromonzi, Mashonaland East Province, Zimbabwe.

History

Goromonzi school is located 35 kilometers from the Zimbabwean capital Harare, along the Harare-Mutare Road. The school was established in 1946 as the first boarding school for black secondary school students - expanding the role of education in what was then Southern Rhodesia, and designed to provide access to University education. Started initially as a boys school, the first girls were admitted under the Headmastership of John Hammond in 1954. Until that time, there had been suspicion amongst the people about education for women. The first intake was of only five girls but by 1959 the first Head Girl, Sarah Chavunduka, was admitted to the University of Rhodesia. The success of the school was such After Independence in 1980, the first African Headmaster was a former pupil and head boy of the school, Aeneas Chigwedere. Other notable students were Liberty Mhlanga who won a scholarship to study at Clark University in Massachusetts; Hosea Mapondera who won a Ford Foundation Grant and was then on the staff of the National Gallery; Edmund Grace and Cornelius Sanyanga excelled in their careers. Another pupil studying at the University of Rhodesia was Buzwani Mothobi who wrote a report back to the school on the first intake of African Students in 1960, saying "The Goromonzi colony now numbers about 20 souls out of a total black population of about 49"

Academics

Subjects offered include Mathematics, English Language & Literature, Sciences, Accounts, Practical Subjects such as Agriculture, Woodwork, Fashion and Fabrics, Home Economics, Shona, Technical Graphics, computer studies, biology, physics, chemistry.

Extracurricular activities

Social clubs: Entertainment Committee, Interact Club, Scripture Union, Toastmasters Club & Leo Club

Chess

In chess Goromonzi High lifted the Harare Schools Chess league in 2014 under the leadership of the school's legend, the first ever to play for the school in Europe, Anesu Gwezere with the help of Kudzaishe Manyanya with a fide rating of 1800 the best rating in the country for his age group. The school has also produced other talented players in the form of Panashe Munemo and Panashe Gatsi who also lifted the schools chess league in 2014 alongside the aforementioned legends. Chess is certainly their strongest point though basketball is the school's main sport which has produced many great players in the national team like Marshall Gwezere and Tinotenda Nyanhete to mention just a few.

Athletics

Goromonzi has an array of sports including with facilities for Rugby, Soccer, Netball, Volleyball, Basketball, Tennis, Table Tennis, Cricket, Athletics, swimming and other interest activities. In recent years the school has been the best in Mashonaland East. In 2010 the under 20 boys basketball team made it to the nationals but fell short to Churchill High School.

See also

• List of boarding schools
• List of secondary schools in Mashonaland East

Notable alumni

• Tendai Biti, Zimbabwean minister of finance
• Aeneas Chigwedere, educator, historian, and politician
• Tizirai Gwata, physician and politician; first black mayor of Harare
• Sarah Kachingwe, activist and politician
• Christopher Kuruneri, businessman, lawyer, and politician
• Simon Mazorodze, physician and politician
• David Phiri, businessman
• Dr Beth Chitekwe-Biti, Planner and urban development activist. Current Managing Director of Slum Dwellers International
• Admire Taguma Musingarabwi, politician, philanthropist
• Tm

External links

• Official website