The ManicaPost
Senior Reporter
MUTAMBARA High School has cracked the whip by suspending 28 students accused of leading students’ protests that rocked the school a fortnight ago.
They will also appear before a disciplinary panel whose verdict will determine their fate. Most of them are Form 4s. They were sent packing last Thursday.
Their parents are also expected to repair property damaged during the riots that rocked the United Methodist Church-run boarding school.
Police were still handling the criminal aspect of the demonstration, probing allegations of malicious damage to property.
Rampaging students vandalised 569 windowpanes at the dining hall, girls’ hostels and deputy head’s house; eight gates, furniture, kitchen utensils and the wind screen of an official vehicle belonging to Reverend Masvotsa, whom they accused of banning Scripture Union.
Acting Manicaland Provincial Education Director Mr Andrew Chigumira said the suspensions were for two weeks.
“Yes, we have sent 28 students home. The suspensions are for two weeks, which is sufficient time for us to investigate their role in the disturbances. We are assessing which role each of them played in the protests and our officers are there on the ground working on it,” said Mr Chigumira.
United Methodist spokesperson Rev Dr Marevangepo was not readily available for comment as his mobile phone kept ringing without being answered.
Last week Rev Dr Marevangepo said the church had dispatched an emissary to look into the disturbances.
However, indications on the ground suggest that the United Methodist Church-run boarding school was unwavering on severely dealing with unruly behaviour.
Sources at the school revealed that the school was also investigating allegations of abuse of the students’ rights by the security guards and corruption against the school deputy head, one Mr Chikwenjere.
They accused the deputy school head of confiscating their cellphones and demanding bribes to secure their return.
They further accused him of other corrupt practices.
The students also demanded the immediate removal of an abusive security guard, one Mr Chikoti, who assaulted a Form Two pupil thereby provoking an angry reaction from the students.
It was not immediately clear if Mr Chikoti was reporting for duty.
He had disappeared that Sunday evening as the students bayed for his blood.
It remains unclear if disciplinary measures would be taken against him.
The students accused the guard of violent conduct.
The students also accused teachers at the school of ill-treating them.
They alleged they were being made to pay $50 to have confiscated cellphones back.
Students are not allowed to have cellphones at the school and while authorities confiscate them, the students complained that they pay through the nose to have them returned.
They also complained of poor and insufficient food and corporal punishment.
Tempers flared when students were barred from watching the Netherlands-Mexico Fifa World Cup game as some had requested to watch the match from the library while others insisted on using the facility for study.
The disagreement forced the deputy head to cancel the screening of the matches and instructed the students back to their dormitories under the watchful eyes of security guards.
A security guard allegedly assaulted one student — thereby igniting the anger of the boys.
The usually tranquil school degenerated into a free-for-all as they vandalised property during that evening.
The situation calmed following the arrival of police.
