Cuthbert Mashoko
Centre News Hub
MWENEZI – Rutenga Primary School has made history as the first primary school in Mwenezi District to acquire a brand new 67-seater state-of-the-art luxury school bus.
The Yutong D12, 2026 model, arrived at the school on the evening of 5 August to wild celebrations. Residents of the sprawling Rutenga Growth Point jostled to catch a glimpse of the new wheels, hailing it as a major milestone for the school and the district.
School Head Tenson Mukapa addressed the crowd that had gathered late to welcome the bus.
“Our bus is here at last. This was an idea, and today it is a reality. Thank you for your support. Thank you for being here as we witness this historic development, not only for our school but for our district, Mwenezi,” an ecstatic Mukapa said as he disembarked from the bus.
Ward 18 Councillor Tawanda Muza, who was part of the team that travelled to Bulawayo to collect the bus, commended parents and learners for their unity.
“Rutenga Community, these are the fruits of our collective effort. When we put our hands together, we produce amazing results. Thank you, parents, for having faith in our Head, Mr Mukapa. With unity of purpose, we will never go wrong,” Muza said.
Longtime Rutenga resident Enita Moyo, popularly known as Mbuya VaTado, reflected on the school’s growth.
“This school has come of age. I have watched it grow from humble beginnings. Most of the developments here came during the tenure of Mr Mukapa. He has transformed this school into one of the best in Mwenezi,” she said.
Sports Organiser Margaret Mapfumo said the bus would solve long-standing transport challenges for learners.
“As the Sports Department, this is a huge development. It will make it easier to transport our athletes to sporting events. Rutenga Primary is a sporting powerhouse, and we used to hire 3 or 4 commuter omnibuses. All that is now a thing of the past. I salute the Champion Head, Mr Mukapa, and our parents for making this happen,” Mapfumo said.
Grade 5 learner Hope Shonhayi could not hide her excitement.
“We are happy our school now has a school bus. It will be used for field trips and for sports. The bus is big enough to take everyone, and it’s the latest model,” she said.
The new bus is a Yutong D12 July 2026 model with 67 seats. It is fitted with air conditioning and USB charging ports for cell phones.
