Gifford High School

Gifford High School is a government-owned boys only high school in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. The school was founded in 1927 as Bulawayo Technical School led by Mr P.H. Gifford and four teachers, with an enrolment of about 39 pupils.[1]

High school status was achieved in 1931. Since 1953 it has been located on Matopos Road, just adjacent to Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Show grounds. In 1962, it was renamed in honour of its founder. The school's motto is Hinc Orior which is Latin meaning "From Here I Arise" or specifically "from these beginnings my formed mind springs". The school's major rival is Milton High School.

Gifford logo

Latin motto is "Hinc Orior" ('From Here I Arise')

Gifford High School on the internet

School Official Website

Gifford Technical High School Old Boy's Contact List

Clubs

Gifford Junior Debate Club has won debates and public speaking competitions.

Chess Club The Chess Club has a well established reputation in the Zimbabwe chess circles, having won the national schools championship and the regional league on a number of occasions. Among the chess players who have been produced are Savvas Kyriakides (former Zimbabwe olympiad chess player), Siza Masuku , Ronald Chikwava, Genius Runyowa, Brian Mudhara and Thabang Moyo. Gifford High enjoyed a 10-year unbeaten run in the interschools chess league from 1976 to 1986.

The 21st century saw a rise of a new generation in the Gifford Chess Era. The 1st team which enjoyed an unbeaten run from the year 2004 and 2005 consisted of Nigel Mabhiza, Farai Muguti, Bhekinkosi Silenje, Nqobile Sibindi, Conrad Mpofu and Alphas Chad.

In 2006 a 'dream team' according the club's coach and mentor Mr J Mpofu emerged, this consisted of the invincible 4A boys Decide Mupande, Thubelihle Ngwenya and Fortune Ndebele and the subtle Brian Mudhara also included in this team was the highly gifted Talent Manyani. The team then underwent a rebuilding process after the old boys had left and a new breed emerged and through thorough training and entorship has become the greatest team of all.

Trevor Sibanda (4a 2011) wrote "After they received theory books the team of 2011 became almost unbeatable but this new found skill was not fully exploited. Despite that fact a mere Form two boy has managed to find him self a place in the top six of the team. the 2011 top six are Archford matiringe, Matthew Nyati, Jefferson Metha, Wayne Gazi, Victor Muchemwa and Tatenda Simoyi."

Dino Ndlovu of debate club and Alexander Bent, have become JNR Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe and JNR Governor of Zimbabwe respectfully. Victor Muchemwa has been awarded a diploma in chess.

Alumni

Notable alumni include

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 I.P. Maclaren, ed. (1981), Some Renowned Rhodesian Senior Schools 1892 - 1979, Bulawayo: Books of Zimbabwe, pp. 145–155