By Correspondant
SEASONED educationist and former Pamushana High School principal Johnson Madhuku has joined Lucky Stars Academy as its pioneering principal, bringing decades of experience in teaching, school leadership, academic development, sport and extracurricular activities as the institution prepares to open its doors in January 2027.
Madhuku’s extensive career in education has seen him serve in different capacities, including as a teacher at Madamombe Government High School, Deputy Head at Renco Mine High School, Head of Rumwanda High School and eventually Head of Pamushana High School, where he served for two decades.
Whilst heading Pamushana High School, Madhuku also served as a part-time lecturer to MSc students in Peace, Leadership and Conflict Resolution at Zimbabwe Open University and supervised ZOU Post Graduate Diploma students on Teaching Practice.
At Pamushana, Madhuku was associated with consistently strong academic results at both Ordinary Level and Advanced Level, alongside achievements in sport, creative arts and other extracurricular programmes.
His experience in sport and education leadership also extends beyond individual schools. Madhuku served as President of the Confederation of Southern African Schools Sports Associations (COSASSA) and was President of the National Association of Secondary Heads (NASH) for a decade.
His contribution to education and sport has also earned him two government accolades, while his involvement in education leadership included engagement with the responsible ministry on educational and curriculum issues.
Speaking to the media, Madhuku said his decision to join Lucky Stars Academy was influenced by the institution’s organisation, clear vision and mission, as well as the contribution it seeks to make to education and national development.
“I had to join Lucky Stars because of its vision, its mission and the contribution that they need to achieve. I believe in what the school is trying to build and I saw an opportunity to contribute my experience to that vision,” said Madhuku.
His appointment comes as Lucky Stars positions itself as a modern learning environment serving learners from ECD through secondary school.
The academy is being developed with modern classrooms, two completed and fully furnished dining halls, two completed and furnished science laboratories and two computer laboratories, as well as a clinic, chapel, boarding facilities, teachers’ accommodation, sporting facilities, security infrastructure and water infrastructure supported by a borehole, council water and two 80 000-litre water tanks.
The institution is also placing emphasis on Science, aligned with NDS 2 education vision pillars aimed at supporting economic development.
Lucky Stars is set to offer ECD A and B, Grade 1 to 6, Form 1 to 3 and Form 5, with two classes planned for each grade.
For Madhuku, the appointment presents an opportunity to bring his accumulated experience to a new educational project and contribute to the development of an institution from its formative stages.
As Lucky Stars prepares to welcome its first learners in January 2027, his experience across classroom teaching, school administration, academic development, sport and education leadership forms part of the foundation upon which the academy is building its vision.
Located about eight kilometres from Beitbridge along the Beitbridge-Masvingo Highway, Lucky Stars Academy is preparing to welcome learners into its new learning environment in January 2027.
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