About Us

HISTORY OF HILLCREST COLLEGE

Hillcrest College was founded with the intention of providing for the community a high standard, low fee, broad based secondary school education in an atmosphere conducive to harmony and understanding between the different ethnic groups. The college is a non-racial, Christian and co-educational institution. The venture had one object in mind; that is, to supply an educational establishment for children of Manicaland that offers an education for them that is as good as can be obtained anywhere.

The College was conceived as a community project involving a great many people and businesses in Mutare. After having established a company called Hillcrest Schools (Pvt) Ltd, which had successfully established the Preparatory school in 1983, the company turned its focus towards construction of the college. Plans for the first 6 classroom block of timber were submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval in October 1984 and the costly work of laying electrical and other services to the undeveloped land of twelve hectares commenced. After overcoming initial bureaucracy, shortages and discomforts, in January 1985, the College opened its doors as an ‘Upper Top’, a Rural Day Secondary School. The college started with two classes of twenty-five Form 1 pupils.

The history of Hillcrest College would be incomplete without mention of the following people, whose labour of love is a testament of the school’s founding principles;

A.G. Bhadella, H.B. Coventry, B.A. De Buys, Senator J.T.N. Dhube, F.J. Heyne, P. L. Genari, D.A. Knight, J.C.J. Lewis, Bishop E. Masuko, D.G. Meikle, Bishop A. C. Muchabaiwa, E.G. Stockil, A.H.R. Went, H.M.Knaggs

History of Farmcrest Hostel

The establishment of the College in 1985 also raised the need for boarding. A group of farmers formed their own company, Farmcrest Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, with the sole purpose of managing the hostel for their children and pupils from rural areas. Farmcrest raised its own funds and purchased two properties about three kilometres from the main college campus, recruited its own staff and generally ‘did its own thing’. However, the parents of the boarders later on resolved that Farmcrest be absorbed into Hillcrest Schools (Pvt) Ltd.

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Headmasters over the years

Mr. J. A. Cowan 1985-1987
Mr. D. White 1988-1992
Mr. R. Hanly 1993-2001
Mr. S. Prior 2001-2004
Mr. J. De Brjuin 2005-2007
Mr. S. Kaziboni 2008 – 2013,
Mr. O. Chipato (Acting) April 2014 - 2015 April
Mrs. A. Holman May 2015 – 2019
Mr. O. Fernandes (Hillcrest Schools' Principal) May 2020 to December 2023
Mr. O. Chipato (Acting Head) January to December, 2024
Mrs. S. Shoesmith (Hillcrest Schools) Current

The Board of Governors is the guardian of the schools’ mission and core values. They set the strategic policies for the future well-being of the schools. New governors are nominated by the parent community.

Role of the Board

To direct the administration of the school in accordance with the principles of the Mission Statement.

school sub-committees

1. Academic Sub-Committee (Academic Excellence & Holistic Learning)
Chaired by Dr. Thomas Masese

2. Human Resources Sub-Committee (Workforce Design, Organisational
Health & Culture) – Chaired by Mr. Million Chingombe

3. Finance Sub-Committee (Operational Efficiency and Crisis & Risk Readiness) – Chaired by Mr. Richard Chiwandire

4. Management Sub-Committee (Policy, Governance, Systems & Compliance) – Chaired by Mrs. Carmel Murray

5. Developmental Sub-Committee (Projects, Infrastructure & Sustainability) – Chaired by Mr. Shiraan Ahmed

6. Marketing Sub-Committee (Growth, Marketing & Communique)
Chaired by Mr. Bernard Makoni

Trustees

Mr. Dave Meikle

Mr. George Lock

BOARD of governors

Mrs. Victoria Jakazi (Board Chair)
Mr. Richard Chiwandire (Finance Chair)
Mr. Mohammed Shiraan Ahmed (Member & Finance)
Mr. Million Chingombe (Human Resources Chair)
Dr. Thomas Masese (Member)
Mrs. Carmel Murray (Member)
Mr. Calexy Maunga (Member & Human Resources)
Mr. Bernard Makoni (Member)
Eng. Emmerson Lungu (Member)
Mrs. Chipo Kanengoni (Member)