Parents of students attending Mapanzure High School in Masvingo District are expressing outrage towards school authorities after the school bus was involved in an accident while transporting 65 Zanu PF Women’s League members to a cooking competition organized by the First Lady, Auxillia Mnangagwa, in May 2022.
The incident has sparked anger among parents, who are demanding immediate action from school authorities. They have vowed to halt all sporting activities at the school and refuse to fund any transportation services until the bus, valued at US$150,000, is returned.
Natiel Chimbuya, Chairperson of the School Development Committee (SDC), confirmed the situation, expressing his inability to quell the parents’ fury and calling for intervention from higher authorities to ensure the bus is replaced.
“We were at a meeting today (Thursday, May 9) but we have failed to find a solution to the school bus challenge.
Efforts to obtain a response from the District School Inspector, Ishmael Chigaba, and Provincial Education Director, Shyllatte Mhike, proved futile.
“When we do meetings we try by all means to shield the head because parents are angry, they accuse him of allowing Zanu PF to abuse the school bus. At times we do meetings without him because the angry parents would always want to attack him,” said Chimbuya.
The school head is also facing scrutiny from enraged parents, who accuse him of permitting Zanu PF to misuse the school bus, which they collectively purchased.
In response to the incident, Zanu PF provincial spokesperson, Pepukai Chiwewe, expressed sympathy towards the school and parents. However, he stressed the importance of vehicle owners ensuring proper insurance coverage, emphasizing that accidents can occur regardless of the user.
“I am not sure of the position of that matter now but I will make enquiries to establish if it is the party that should repair or replace the bus because they had hired it. However, we do sympathise with the school and the parents and we would want to see the bus back at school for all to benefit.
“I would also want to urge all vehicle owners to make sure that their vehicles are insured because accidents happen regardless of who is using it,” said Chiwewe.
The accident occurred along the Masvingo – Mashava Road, resulting in the Zanu PF Women’s League members being accommodated at Maponga Lodge nearby.
The cooking competition forms part of the First Lady’s initiatives aimed at assisting disadvantaged communities. However, the incident raises concerns about the politicisation of school resources, especially in light of a recent court ruling prohibiting political parties from utilizing school buses or involving school children in political activities.
Justice Joseph Mafusire’s ruling at the High Court in Masvingo prohibits political parties from using school premises, furniture, or school buses for political purposes.
Source Tellzim
