Uneven surfaces at Lwendulu Primary school in Hwange makes driving a wheelchair difficult for children living with disabilities. Image by Calvin Manika, March 2023

The Girls Way of Life Charitable Trust has established an inclusive school in Matabeleland North to provide education for disabled children who face significant barriers to accessing education due to inadequate infrastructure and resources.

This story is part of a reporting series supported by the Pulitzer Centre.

BY CALVIN MANIKA | @The_CBNews | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | APR 1, 2023

Mabheka secondary school is the only school available to six villages within a 30-kilometer radius at Dwala village. Image by Lynnia Ngwenya, March 2023

For students in Matabeleland, attending school is a struggle. With fewer schools per ward, many must walk long distances just to reach the nearest one.

This story is part of a reporting series supported by the Pulitzer Centre.

BY LYNNIA NGWENYA | @The_CBNews | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | MAR 31, 2023

Sewage waste drying up at a doorstep...Burst sewage systems run through houses at Vubachikwe mine. Image by Lynnia Ngwenya

A health hazard is looming at Vubachikwe Mine in Gwanda, where mine workers and residents have gone for months without running water, a situation which is a ticking time bomb for diseases like Cholera and Typhoid.

BY LYNNIA NGWENYA | @The_CBNews | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | MAR 30, 2023

Cottages at Lupane Business Centre used by children as boarding facilities. Image by Calvin Manika, March 2023

In Matabeleland, remote schools have brought with them a host of challenges. However, the local community has banded together to develop innovative solutions that have yielded impressive results. By working collectively, they have found ways to overcome barriers such as long distances, exorbitant boarding costs, and lacklustre academic performance.

This story is part of a reporting series supported by the Pulitzer Centre.

BY CALVIN MANIKA | @The_CBNews | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | MAR 30, 2023

According to research, sixty percent of mental health admissions are due to substance and drug abuse and of those, 80% of them are between 16 and 35 years of age. Image by Newsday

As the fight against drug abuse intensifies, in Gwanda the devastating impact of illegal substance on youth is becoming increasingly apparent.
 
BY MELODY MPANDE | @The_CBNews | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | MAR 29, 2023