By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
The Zion Christian Church (ZCC) has expanded its education footprint with the opening of Southern Cross College in Beitbridge, marking the church’s 25th school nationwide.
The school is located less than 10 kilometres from Beitbridge’s CBD and offers both day and boarding facilities.
Speaking to Ziyah News Network, Southern Cross College Headmistress Farai Nyamande said the institution, also known as Gurugudhera, is a purposeful faith-based school offering exclusively the Cambridge syllabus, with strong emphasis on STEM and Technical Education.
She said the school has started with Form One and Form Two classes and is still enrolling learners.
Nyamande said Southern Cross College maintains a pupil–teacher ratio of 25 learners per class, a deliberate move to avoid overcrowding and ensure quality teaching.
“We will continue to have only 25 students per class so that every learner receives individual attention,” she said.
The headmistress said the school promises top-notch education, drawing strength from the ZCC’s long experience in education, with the church having operated schools for decades.
“The church already runs 24 schools across the country, and this experience gives Southern Cross College a great advantage,” Nyamande said.
She said the school will also embrace Education 5.0 by introducing non-examinable subjects such as Heritage Studies and local languages, including Shona, Ndebele and Tshivenda, aimed at preserving culture while equipping learners with practical life skills.
Although founded by the ZCC, Nyamande emphasized the school is open to learners from all religious backgrounds.
She further revealed that the establishment of Southern Cross College in Beitbridge carries historical significance, as it commemorates the journey of ZCC founder Samuel Mutendi, who used to pass through Beitbridge while crossing the Limpopo River, also known as the Crocodile River, on his way to South Africa for ministry.
Southern Cross College adds to the growing number of learning institutions in Beitbridge, bringing Cambridge-based education closer to local communities.
The school is also expected to help reduce overcrowding in local schools and curb the rise of unregistered institutions, which has been a growing concern in the border town.
ZCC also runs the famous Mutendi High School Mission in Masvingo Province and is among the first indigenous missionaries of Zimbabwe.