THE case of two Mthwakazi Youth Leaders Joint Resolution (MYLJR) activists and parents who protested at Makuzeze Primary School in Plumtree in January 2013 demanding the removal of the acting headmistress on accusations of maladministration, was deferred to next month after the State indicated that it had failed to secure a Sotho language interpreter. SILAS NKALA STAFF REPOER
MYLJR leaders Mqondisi Moyo and Busani Sibindi are being jointly charged with a number of Plumtree villagers for the Makuzeze protest.
Moyo and Sibindi were recently fined $500 each by Bulawayo magistrate Crispen Mberewere for staging an illegal protest march against Zesa Holdings over the employment of 300 people from outside Bulawayo.
They have not yet been asked to plead to the charge and the matter was remanded to May 5 after the State said it was still looking for a Sotho interpreter.
The delay has raised the ire of some MYLJR activists who have questioned how the State could fail to get a Sotho interpreter when the language is spoken in Matabeleland South.
“The case is being postponed after the court failed to provide a Sotho interpreter.
“It is surprising that a court in Matabeleland South says there is no Sotho interpreter while it’s a local language and yet we have so many Shona interpreters,” said MYLJR activist Mbonisi Gumbo.
Moyo, Sibindi and some Plumtree villagers are being charged with disorderly behaviour at a public place and causing hatred towards some teachers at Makuzeze by influencing parents to protest against them and demanding their ouster.
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Over 90 villagers in Mangwe district reportedly stormed the school in January 2013 demanding the transfer of the acting head Victoria Pasipanodya.
They accused the head of unfairly instigating the transfer of three teachers from the school for allegedly “undermining her authority”.
The demonstrators picketed at the school demanding the immediate transfer of Pasipanodya, her husband Munyaradzi, who was a teacher at the school, as well as the deputy headmaster Robson Gotosa.
The protest resulted in them being moved from the school.
