Zimpapers Logo

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
TWENTY-TWO pupils at Nandi Primary School in Chiredzi were injured, three seriously after six security guards stormed the school and assaulted them for allegedly stealing sugarcane.The pupils were admitted to Chiredzi Hospital following the brutal assault in which the guards allegedly used baton sticks and tree switches to indiscriminately beat them.

Sources at the school said the guards bulldozed their way into the school playground at break time and savagely beat up the children.

A majority of the children bled and could hardly walk or sit down.

They allegedly threatened to assault teachers who tried to intervene.

Masvingo acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna said the incident happened on Thursday at around 10AM.

“I can confirm receiving a report to that effect. The security guards were arrested and they are assisting police with investigations. They are due to appear in court soon facing charges of child physical abuse,” said Asst Insp Nduna.

A school official told Chronicle he was still struggling to come to terms with the “vicious” assault.

He said: “They accused the children of having stolen sugarcane from the farms the previous day. Some sustained bruises all over their bodies while three of them sustained swollen buttocks. A majority of the children could hardly walk or sit down.”

Menias Chitanga, 23, from Mkwasine told  Chronicle that on Wednesday afternoon at around 2PM security guards who work for indigenous farmers at Mkwasine Estate were on duty manning the sugarcane farms.

“Six security guards saw school children from nearby Nandi primary stealing sugarcane from the fields. The guards confronted the pupils but the children took to their heels. The guards couldn’t catch the children so they gave up the chase,” said Chitanga.

He said the following morning the angry guards went to the school. “Upon arriving at the school, they found children playing at break time. The guards randomly picked 22 pupils without even seeking consent from the school authorities.”

“The assailants threatened teachers who tried to stop them from hurting the children. The teachers were forced to watch helplessly as the guards vented their anger on the pupils,” said Chitanga.

The guards, another school official said, left the injured children screaming and writhing in pain.

The guards allegedly boasted that they had disciplined “thieves.”

“Teachers were left nursing pupils, some who were no longer able to stand on their feet,” said the official.

A report was made to the police who attended the scene and rushed the pupils to the hospital.

The official said the security guards were tracked down and arrested.