Zimpapers Logo

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
THE row over deployment of non-Ndebele speaking teachers in Matabeleland schools spilled into   the courts yesterday with seven suspects appearing before a magistrate for storming a school and demanding the removal of a headmistress over the issue.The group, comprising villagers from Makuzeze area in Mangwe District and members of the Mthwakazi Joint Youth Resolution, allegedly connived and confronted Makuzeze Primary School head Victoria Pasipanodya ordering her to vacate the school as she belonged to the Shona tribe.

Pasipanodya however, said she is married to a Shona husband but is of Ndebele origin and her maiden surname is Nyathi.

Mqondisi Moyo, 26, Busani Sibanda, 30, Thandolwenkosi Dube, 26, Simanje Sibanda, 32, Lieoto Dube, 36, Ntokozo Denga, 35, and Temba Mvundla, 48, allegedly stormed the school’s offices early last year and hurled insults at the headmistress demanding that she resigns.

The seven denied the charges before Plumtree magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa and were remanded out of custody to today for continuation of trial.

Pasipanodya, who has since been transferred to Kwite Primary School in the same district, said she left the school because of the threats.

“When these rowdy people came to the school they insulted me and they told me that they wanted me to leave the school as they were tired of being led by Shona speaking people,” she told Plumtree magistrate Gideon Ruvetsa.

“They said it was enough that the nation was being led by a Shona speaking person and they would not accept this at community level.”
Pasipanodya said when the storm finally died down she was told to return to her workplace but refused because of the incident.

She also said the group had accused her of sleeping with some of the education officers in order to retain her position.

“One of the accused persons even told me that I was not qualified for the job.  She further insulted me by calling me a slut who sleeps around to get promoted,” said   Pasipanodya.

The row at the school started in January last year after Pasipanodya was accused by members of the School Development Committee (SDC) of unfairly dismissing Ndebele speaking teachers from the school.

With the Mthwakazi pressure group members in tow, the villagers decided to confront her.

Prosecuting, Jane Phiri told how on January 8 last year, the mob stormed the school bringing lessons to a halt.

“The seven accused persons approached Pasipanodya at the school and demanded the administration keys. They threatened her with unspecified action if she did not surrender the keys and ordered her to leave the school,” said Phiri.

“They also insulted the complainant in public therefore acting in a disorderly and riotous manner in a public space.”

Phiri said tempers only subsided after the headmistress complied and handed over the office keys, documents and cash to the SDC members.

She said the demonstrators also demanded the immediate transfer of the complainant’s husband Munyaradzi, who was a teacher at the school and the deputy headmaster Robson Gotosa.

To resolve the conflict, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education last year overhauled the entire staff at the school.