via Students abandoned as unregistered ZPF school closes | SW Radio Africa by Tererai Karimakwenda on Monday, April 14, 2014
A primary school that was set up last year as an election campaign gimmick by ZANU PF officials in Chimanimani was shut down without warning, leaving many students stranded and unable to transfer to other schools.
Chimanimani activist Peter Chanetsa told SW Radio Africa that Westward Hall Primary School in ward 14, which was founded by controversial white ZANU PF supporter Joshua Sacco, was ordered to be closed by the local District Administrator and Ministry of Education in early February.
As reported on SW Radio Africa last year, the school operated without being registered and without a curriculum, using unqualified teachers chosen for their support of ZANU PF. The fake teachers allegedly taught ZANU PF party philosophy and liberation war songs.
Chanetsa said Westward is located on property once owned by Border Timbers, which was illegally invaded by ZANU PF supporters who settled there. Sacco and his ZANU PF rival Samuel Undenge promised them security from eviction and promoted the school during the campaign period.
But the district administrator and the education ministry refused to register the primary school when the new term started in January and ordered the teachers to shut it down with immediate effect. The parents received no support from ZANU PF and their children were abandoned by the school.
“Undenge won the election as MP and has been in Harare since July. Sacco has not been involved since he lost the primary election and lost interest. As a result the students had no legal transfer letters to go other schools. Those in grade seven could not write exams,” Chanetsa explained.
Hoping to save their school, the children organized a demonstration at the district administrator’s offices in late February, but they were ignored. Having spent the whole day without food, they walked more than 15kilometres back home to ward 14 Chimanimani.
MP Undenge, who is also the Deputy Minister for Economic Planning, has not intervened to save the school since its closure in February.
Udenge is not known for his care of children. He was involved in a divorce case back in 2009, when he reportedly refused to pay school fees for his own children at a school in Harare.
White farmer Joshua Sacco has links to top political leaders. He was once described by Robert Mugabe as being the last white man standing in ZANU PF.
COMMENTS
Sad,poor kids!
I have no sympathy for these people, year in and year out they are used by ZANU PF. The children should demonstrate against their parents
Poor kids, being sacrificed by zanu pf power mongers and their stupid parents who fall for zanu pf necked lies at each & every other elections. How come our people never learn? I take serious concern with anyone who complains about being told a lie by some zanu pf thug at this age. Surely, having being bombarded with lies, lies, and lies through and through by zanu pf for over a generation should have taught anyone among us that truth is a taboo to zanu pf.
Whenever, a properly zanunized thug (of which in zanu pf leadership are) open his/her mouth please be rest assured that only lies are going to come of that big mouth. The people are simply incapable of saying or acting truthfully. We know for sure even if they pretend to give you something tangible (a school for instance) it will be a dummy of some sort – if it is really then be rest assured that they will come back and demand it back forcefully. Lest, you forget you forgetful Zimboz: Ko maComputers atakavona achipuwa zvikoro zvose-zvose munyika naGrace gore riya iri? Mwana wako akimbo vuya achikuvudza kuti nhasi tanga tichitamba pacomputer kuchikoro here kubva zvatakamaratidziwa pamaTV – chembere neharahwa dzedu dzika nyura shoka nokupembera. Ngwarai, vana zeZimbabwe; mhani! Kwete kungoridza mhere pose-pose; muri imi munoita hangamwa dze gudo. Any way gudo rikatova nani – harikangamwi pfimbi yaro yamashuku – so have respected u too much with you astonishing forgetfulness.
I believe that you should verify your facts before you publish your articles.
The school in question West Ward Ho is being blocked by a German owned company Border Timbers limited that claims to be the responsible authority.
I believe that you should verify your facts before you publish your articles.
The school in question West Ward Ho is being blocked by a German owned company Border Timbers limited that claims to be the responsible authority.
thankyou so much for the clarification.