The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani News Editor
A HEADMASTER at a primary school in Nyanga District is alleged to have barred 15 pupils from sitting for their Grade Seven ZIMSEC national examinations as punishment for failing to pay US$7 each for extra lessons during the August holiday.
The incident happened at Tsengerai Primary School in Nyanga, where the headmaster, Mr Oswell Garapo, is also standing accused of having tried to enlist the services of a well-known n’anga in the area to eliminate some of the whistle-blowers.
The n’anga (name withheld) once made headlines for supplying goblins to anyone who sought his services. The n’anga could not be reached for a comment as his cellphone was continuously ringing without anyone picking up the calls.
Mr Garapo is also alleged to have tried to bribe the guardian of one of the pupils with two beasts and US$200 to cover up his misdeeds. The orphaned pupil had her school fees paid for the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).
When phoned for a comment yesterday morning, Mr Garapo could neither deny nor confirm the allegations simply saying: “Yes, it is Mr Garapo speaking, but I am not allowed to speak to the Press. I refer everything you are asking about to the district office.”
Manicaland provincial education director Mr Edward Shumba confirmed the incident and said he had tasked the Nyanga District office to institute full-scale investigations.
“First, I would like to thank you for bringing that issue to my attention. I have consulted our Nyanga District office who said most pupils were no longer coming to school at the time when their peers were sitting for the national examinations.
“There was violation of standing regulations in this issue. The contract of whether one writes an examination is between the pupil and the examination body and not the headmaster. Once there is violation of standing regulations, full-scale investigations are instituted. We will let the district carry out their investigations and avail a detailed report for us to look into the appropriate action to take on violators.
“I have gathered that 15 pupils failed to sit for the examinations. At the moment, we have only received reports from Tsengerai Primary School, but cannot rule out more cases. We will deal with the issues if they are brought to our attention,” said Mr Shumba.
The Manica Post is in possession of some of the recordings of the n’anga and some of the emissaries who had allegedly been enlisted by the headmaster to engage the child’s guardian to have the matter swept under the carpet.
The two emissaries who were allegedly sent by Mr Garapo to the girl’s guardian last Thursday were promised US$20 each.
In one of the recordings, one of the emissaries is heard saying the girl’s guardian had refused to budge. The n’anga was also recorded discussing with one of the targeted victims, saying she was luck to be alive because his services had been enlisted to eliminate her.
The n’anga was also saying it was not wise for the two of them to be seen together. In the 14-minute, six seconds recording, Mr Garapo is heard pleading with the guardian of the pupil at her homestead to drop the case.
