The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
CHIBUWE High School was last week thrown in the eye of a storm after some unscrupulous officials allegedly presided over controversial School Development Committee (SDC) elections in which some illegitimate voters were roped in and greased to vote for certain candidates.
The drama, which allegedly unfolded recently, has fueled strong suspicions of potential corrupt deals likely to be cut by SDC members and school officials behind the rigging plot.
Ugly scenes at Chibuwe High come hard on the heels of a similar incident at Chirowakamwe Primary in Mutare, and last year’s elections at Sakubva Primary, where police had to be called in to quell the electoral disturbances.
Chipinge Rural District Council (responsible authority) chief executive officer Mr Blessing Mamvosha confirmed the disturbances, adding that a committee has since been set to investigate the matter and make recommendations that would help bridge the rift created by chaotic elections.
“Parents have raised some genuine concerns and we engaged the head of department for social services to set up a team to gather facts on the ground. The team will engage all key stakeholders to get the bottom of the problem.
“We will engage the respective councillor (who is being fingered) and other key stakeholders with a view to ensure that normalcy returns to the school. We do not want to compromise the education delivery system at the school as we are aware that Chibuwe High has been a flash point of disturbances. As the responsible authority we will remain professional and non-partisan while ensuring that things are done according to the book and in the best interests of the students,” said Mr Mamvosha.
Introduced under SI87 of 1992, some SDCs seem to have digressed from their core functions and scope of operations, having been conveniently turned into a haven for corrupt activities by some unscrupulous officials and school heads.
Provincial education director (PED) Mr Edward Shumba concurred that some parents rig their way into SDCs with the aim to employ some relatives and embezzle funds.
“It is unfortunate that we have people who rig their way into these SDCs thinking that they can employ their relatives in the respective schools while others intend to embezzle funds. This is a direct contravention of the regulations and scope of operations for SDCs.
“This is why we normally invite members of SDCs soon after they are elected into office so that we give them an orientation of their scope of operations and what is expected of them.
“It is also unfortunate that some people are now abusing SDCs as a springboard for political careers. There are some who want to get positions in SDCs yet they do not have children in the respective schools. The regulations are very clear on that,” said Mr Shumba.
At Chibuwe High, a petition has since been written to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to help find a lasting solution.
“The school has been turned into a political institution and cash cow for opportunists who are milking the SDC and those who want to pursue their political agendas which have nothing to do with the education of our children.
“On February 9, 2019 during elections for the SDC, acting deputy head Mr Tawanda Chitombo, senior teacher Mr Dakarai Dhliwayo and Clr Mugidho connived to rig the AGM which ended at 8:40pm. They gave accreditation cards to people who do not have children at the school and to unemployed school leavers who were paid to vote for specific candidates.
“When the acting school head noticed the scam and tried to intervene he was overpowered by the acting deputy head, senior teacher and the councillor. The councillor was very active at the school entrance to make sure their political party members got through for them to vote. No verification was done to make sure that only parents and guardians with children at the school were given a chance to vote. Even cattle herders with no children at the school were allowed to vote,” reads part of the petition that also spelt corrupt tendencies by the under fire SDC.
