The ManicaPost
Nyore Madzianike Senior Reporter
PEOPLE from villages around Nyashanu Mission High School in Buhera believe the school headmaster is to blame for the accidental shooting, which claimed the life of a Form Four student at the school after his son took a pistol to class leading to the tragedy.
The deceased’s relatives and students who spoke to The Manica Post said Mr Daniel Jeche should take full responsibility for Tatenda Mudiwa’s loss of life after he was shot in the head at close range by his classmate and friend, who cannot be named because of his age.
The friend was arrested and is still assisting police with investigations. Mr Jeche’s CZ pistol was confirmed as the murder weapon in Friday’s shooting that occurred as students were preparing to leave their classroom after finishing vacation lessons.
Mudiwa (17) was shot in the head and later died on Saturday at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare where he had been rushed after the incident. He was expected to be buried this week in Mberi Village under Chief Nyashanu.
Police confirmed the incident and described it as an accident. “I can confirm the shooting incident at Nyashanu Mission High School involving Form Four students Tatenda Mudiwa and his friend. A son to the headmaster went into the classroom with a CZ pistol hidden in his trousers pocket. The son and his two friends began scrutinising its settings and it was during that process that the other friend accidentally pulled the trigger and shot Tatenda,” said Manicaland police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Luxon Chananda.
But the late Tatenda’s uncle and family’s spokesperson, Mr Rangarirai Mudiwa, felt the Dutch Reformed Church’s school headmaster was to blame for the tragic incident. Mr Mudiwa described Mr Jeche as “a very negligent and irresponsible man”. He said what boggled their minds most was the fact that Tatenda’s father was also employed as a cook at the same school.
And that such a calamity could just befall him remains unfathomable. “I am still baffled, as to how this man got to lead such a school with the character he has just exhibited. He is not responsible at all,” said Tatenda’s visibly angry uncle. Mr Mudiwa blamed Mr Jeche for failing to secure his gun, which ended up in the hands of his son. He said had Mr Jeche properly secured his pistol, the incident could have been easily avoided.
“The headmaster was the sole trouble causer because if his gun was properly secured, all this could have been avoided. When the police came, a very small key was produced and they claimed it was the key to the gun cabin. Surely, how can such a small key provide safety for a gun?
“The gun was loaded. How can one place a loaded gun in the cabin? All that needs to be explained. If he was a responsible man this sad story could have been avoided. He failed to secure his pistol, as required by the laws governing possession of such items. He is very negligent,” he said.
Asked if he was aware of the reason Mr Jeche’s son decided to take his father’s gun to the classroom, Mr Mudiwa said: “I was at the police station and at the classroom where the incident occurred. I was also present when warned and cautioned statements were being recorded including that of the headmaster’s son. He never gave a satisfactory explanation as to why he took the gun save to say he just wanted to be in possession of the gun at that particular time. We don’t even know up to this time why he decided to take his father’s gun to the classroom.”
A student at the school, who claimed to have witnessed the incident as it unfolded, also placed blame on the school headmaster, alleging that it was not the first time that the pistol had found itself in the hands of his children.
The Form Three student said sometime last year, one of Mr Jeche’s children was spotted with the gun in the school’s garden. “This is the second time that the gun was spotted with his children. I think sometime in April last year, during the holiday, one of his children was spotted with the same gun in a garden at the school. The man who was working in the garden was the one who alerted the headmaster,” said the student.
The name of student has been withheld to protect him. Mberi Village headman Mr Francis Hazvinavarwi also had no kind words for the school headmaster. He said Mr Jeche’s conduct should be investigated since he once heard of stories of him (Mr Jeche) roving around the village with the gun. “We do not know who to trust now. He was bestowed with the responsibility of taking care of our children, as they undertake their studies, but now the school turns out to be a death zone.
“The police should do a thorough job and come up with a clear position on how the gun ended up in his son’s hands. I am convinced that the gun was not properly secured and he should be punished for that,” he said.
Efforts to get in touch with the son to ascertain why he decided to take his father’s gun to the classroom were fruitless. His mother, Mrs Jeche, said he was not at home despite confirmation from his aunt and other people who reside on the school premises that he was at home during the time this publication visited Nyashanu Mission High School.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr Jeche were also in vain as he was reported to be in Harare assisting with burial arrangements.
His mobile phone was not reachable. School deputy headmaster Mr Charles Chipika refused to comment over the matter citing protocol issues.
“I cannot give an official comment but all I can say is that the incident occurred and the student died. I am not privy to any other details,” he said.
