CHINHOYI, Jan. 13 (NewsDay Live) - Fourteen villagers were arrested yesterday after allegedly blocked the enrolment of students at St Mark’s Secondary School in Mhondoro-Ngezi, accusing the school authorities of admitting “outsiders” at the expense of local children.
The villagers reportedly insisted that the boarding school should prioritise learners from the local community over those from outside the district.
Mashonaland West acting police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Belinda Nyazira, confirmed the arrests but said police were still awaiting full details of what transpired at the Anglican-run school.
“Yes, we have received such information and fourteen people have been arrested in connection with that issue, but we are still to be furnished with full details of what really happened at the school,” said Nyazira.
One of the affected villagers, Mercy Matekenya, whose child was denied Form One placement at the school, said the dispute with school authorities has been ongoing for several years.
Matekenya said the main bone of contention is that the school has increasingly excluded local children by hiking fees beyond the reach of villagers and raising the entry cut-off points, despite the community having played a key role in building the school.
“The school is now pegging fees beyond the reach of many of us in order to shut out our children from the school we sweated to build,” said Matekenya.
She added that the school now demands US$450 in Form One enrolment fees, a figure he said many villagers cannot afford.
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The concerns were echoed by another villager, Charles Mazano, who accused the school of deliberately increasing cut-off points to deny local children admission in favour of boarders from outside the area.
“They deliberately raise the cut-off units to frustrate our children and take in outsiders,” said Mazano.
“They are now prioritising money ahead of our children’s future.”
Area councillor Tawanda Sibanda, who sided with the villagers, said several attempts were made to resolve the matter through dialogue but the school authorities failed to respond.
“The villagers wrote a letter which they gave to me, and I also wrote my own and delivered them to the school authorities last year in August, but up to now there has been no response,” said Sibanda.
St Mark’s Anglican School rector Willard Maneswa declined to comment, referring all questions to Harare Anglican Diocese education secretary Lazarus Nyatsanza, who was not picking calls.
Chegutu District Schools Inspector Jesto Magarire also declined to comment, saying he did not have full details of the incident.
“I don’t have details on that issue, but I can refer you to the Provincial Education Director,” said Magarire.
Councillor Sibanda said the arrested villagers are likely to be charged with participating in an unsanctioned demonstration.
