The controversy-ridden Mpumelelo High School headmistress, Vongai Masunda, has finally left the school after a series of clashes with parents and the community over allegations of disrespect, bullying, tribalism and use of threats whenever parents complain about poor service delivery, lack of development and poor pass rate.
The school is in ward 22, Nkayi South, Matabeleland North province and has a catchment area of nine villages and five feeder primary schools such as Mtshatshane, Katasa, Zenka, Mabayi and Mdlawuzweni.
Nkayi Community Parliament Speaker Nhlanhla Moses Ncube, one of the people who complained about the head’s conduct and petitioned the government for her removal, yesterday confirmed that authorities had succumbed to their demands.
The parents had threatened to withdraw their children from school if the head remained in charge.
“I am told the head has finally left the school,” Ncube said.
“This was due to the whole process including media coverage, the petition that was still in process, the visit to the district schools inspector by the school development committee and village head, the threat to withdraw students from school, among other initiatives.”
Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro had not responded to questions sent to him at the time of printing last night.
But one of the education officers, who investigated the concerns of parents who preferred anonymity on protocol grounds, confirmed Masunda’s departure without giving reasons for her transfer.
- CCC activist nabbed for insulting President
- Let’s confront student bullying, drug abuse head-on
- Filming of public violence: what happened to empathy?
- Fungisai opens up on showbiz bullying
Keep Reading
Villagers also told Southern Eye that Masunda left last week and when a truck laden with her property passed by the business centre, there were cheers and ululations from onlookers who celebrated her departure.
The Nkayi community in February this year accused Masunda of disrespect, bullying, tribalism and use of threats to call the police whenever they complained about poor service delivery.
The villagers also blamed her for a 6% pass rate for the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council finals last year.
SDC chairperson Doreen Sunduza accused Masunda of failure to consult parents, adding that the villagers were facing challenges with the head when it came to issues of service delivery and running of the school.
“She is a dictator and very manipulative. She disrespects local traditional leadership, labelling them uneducated. Whenever parents air their grievances, she lifts the tribal card and plays victim instead of finding ways to improve the school,” she said.
Sunduza said working with Masunda had become difficult.
“Parents were even boycotting coming to school meetings because she threatened them with riot police. The community was afraid to approach her and demand service delivery,” she said.
Village head Dumisani Sibanda described the school head as a bully and arrogant.
“She ran the school like a private entity, did not engage parents. This was shown by attendance statistics at school meetings,” he said.
The community on March 22 petitioned the ministry demanding Masunda’s removal, with more than 100 villagers signing the petition.
The petition was addressed to Primary and Secondary Education minister Torerayi Moyo and copied to Public Service ministry, permanent secretaries to the two ministries, provincial education director Jabulani Mpofu and the Nkayi DSI.
It was also copied to Masunda, Sunduza and the SDC vice-chairman.
“We are deeply concerned parents and stakeholders with pupils who go to school at Mpumelelo High. We hereby petition your office and the Public Service Commission, to immediately conduct an audit and remove Masunda from Mpumelelo High,” the petition read.
“Our calls are majorly due to poor results obtained, her failed relationship with the SDC, traditional leadership and parents in general, making it very difficult to address the poor results and develop the school to our expectations (sic).”
The petitioners said the school was performing dismally at Ordinary Level with a 6,94% pass rate recorded in 2024 after a worse one of 6,85% in 2022.
