The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa Chipinge Correspondent
THERE was drama last Saturday at Gaza Government Primary School in Chipinge District when over 1 000 parents with pupils at the school were at each other’s throats, accusing the outgoing School Development Committee leadership of trying to rig the election.
Riot police reacted swiftly to restore order after mayhem became the order of the day in the school hall where a section of the parents with pupils at the school was trying to chase bouncers out of the hall.
Some of the parents were lucky to escape unhurt after bolting out of the hall through windows since the doors of the hall were locked.
Earlier this month, the SDC election flopped after parents failed to agree on how the election would be conducted, chief among them was the criteria used to invite the parents.
However, during last Saturday’s hotly disputed plebiscite, the bone of contention was the criterion used to cast votes as some sections of the parents were accused of duplicating invitation letters in order for them to be eligible to vote.
The SDC meeting begun around 8am, but most of the time was spent exchanging harsh words with the school authority as parents demanded answers on how some of the projects were being run and conducted.
Some of the parents were heard shouting:
“Ngei mwakatenga imwe D4D isu tisati tapedza kubhadara bhazi. Mare yematoilets manyuwani kuita $48 000, shuwa mwakambozviona kupi, hatiendi kusvika maelection aitwa daidzai mapurisa.
(Why did you buy a new D4D truck when we are still to finish paying up for the bus? How come money used for new toilets was pegged at $48 000?
This is unbelievable. We are not going anywhere until the election is done.
Police should intervene).”
At first the school headmaster, Mr Kuzuwazuwa proposed a ward-based election which was used during the previous election, but it was overwhelmingly rejected by the parents.
Education officials led by District School Inspector, Mr Richard Gabaza, had a torrid time to have order in the hall.
Some of the parents argued that one of the outgoing SDC members bussed some ghost parents from neighbouring areas to win re-election which prompted the majority of parents to call for a master register from the headmaster’s office.
The election was later conducted around 8pm and was closely monitored by the police.
The parents successfully ushered in a new leadership with the outgoing SDC chairman, Mr Pedzisai Mudhende only getting a paltry 20 votes against the highest candidate who polled 213 votes.
Addressing the parents, Mr Gabaza urged them to be responsible for the betterment of their children’s education as well as school reputation.
Mr Gabaza went on to read a SDC Statutory Instrument crafted by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education which bars parents with no pupils at the school from voting.
“What is happening here may paint a bad picture that will affect the reputation of the school.
We are encouraging all parents to obey the rules and regulation of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education since SDC and SDA elections are guided by these rules and regulations.
“We are warning parents who have no pupils here to excuse us and stay outside to pay way for squabbles free environment.
“The permanent secretary (Dr Sylvia Utete-Masango) was in Manicaland Province last week where she reiterated that only parents with pupils at the school will take part in SDC elections, so let us follow laid down procedures,” said Mr Gabaza.
