Online Reporter
Theseus Shambare
AS schools prepare to reopen on Tuesday, anxiety grips a young learner from a private school, a direct contrast to the hopeful flutter most students would feel.
As Travor Mahlanze’s son looks at his school uniform hanging in his closet, sad memories flood his mind.
For him, the impending return to St Ignatius College in Chishawasha is not about learning and friendships.
It is a chilling reminder of the brutal assault he endured just weeks into the previous term — an incident his father believes the school is downplaying.
The wound clearly runs far deeper than the physical scars on his arm.
The patriarch’s voice cracks with a father’s raw pain as he recounts events of that fateful Saturday last term.
Quest for justice
An anonymous email — a frantic message from a classmate — painted a horrifying picture.
Mahlanze’s Form Three son was ambushed by a group of Form Six learners on his way back to the hostel.
Initially dismissed as an exaggeration, the truth that unfolded the next day was far more sinister.
“I went to the school and saw him. His arm was in a sling, his hand grotesquely swollen,” Mahlanze recounts, his words heavy with the sad memory.
A trip to the hospital confirmed the devastating reality: his son had a fracture, infection and a numbness that still plagues him months later.
What ensued was a frustrating quest for justice that left Mahlanze feeling increasingly isolated and betrayed.
As the school’s treasurer at the time, he initially kept silent, intending to address the issue during the School Development Committee (SDC) meeting.
Yet, the meeting concluded without a single mention of the assault.
His subsequent engagement with the school’s rector and headmaster brought assurances of “stern corrective action”, but a week passed with the alleged perpetrators seemingly untouched, while his son grappled with pain and fear.
Then came the unsettling and remorseless calls from parents of the accused.
“I remember telling one parent to re-engage with their child, as they felt like mwana wavo ainyeperwa (their child was being wrongly accused),” recalls the victim’s father.
The promised suspension of the culprits proved to be a fleeting measure.
Within weeks, they were back, their return justified by the school’s philosophy of “rehabilitation” over punitive action — a stance that Mahlanze found deeply troubling.
His resignation from his role as treasurer was a silent protest against what he perceived as the school’s failure to uphold its zero-tolerance policy on bullying.
“They were more worried about rehabilitating the perpetrators as opposed to the victim. There is a policy of zero tolerance, but in this case, it appears the school is deliberately harbouring such behaviour,” laments Mahlanze.
In a letter addressed to Mahlanze dated January 31, 2025, St Ignatius College headmaster Hamilton Maganga conveyed the school’s position, saying: “First and foremost, on behalf of the college, I wish to extend my sincere apologies for this incident, which caused suffering to your son and your family. A thorough investigation led to five students (names withheld) being identified as ringleaders who played a part in the assault, all in Upper Six.”
The headmaster further detailed the disciplinary action taken.
“The implicated boys were first offenders of such a type of misbehaviour at the college. As an institution, we are guided by Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE) regulations, college safeguarding policies and school rules in determining the fate of the implicated boys. Taking cognisance of these guidelines, the college took the position of suspending all the implicated boys for the maximum period of two weeks, as guided by the MoPSE circular Number P. 35, and giving them an additional week of hard labour as a deterrent for similar cases in the future.
“Furthermore, the boys will be given a final warning on their return; failure to comply will warrant immediate dismissal from the college.
“The boys involved will also undergo a counselling session . . . as a redemptive measure,” said the school.
The victim’s father was, however, not appeased and reported the case to the police and provincial office of the Victim Friendly Unit.
“He tells me when he is in the midst of a crowd, he feels tense and uncomfortable as he relives this assault,” Mahlanze said in an interview with The Sunday Mail Society.
Prevalence
This is a heartbreaking picture of the lasting psychological impact of bullying.
The troubled father’s anguish is not an isolated incident.
The spectre of bullying in local schools looms large.
It is a deeply entrenched problem that demands urgent attention as learners prepare to return to classrooms.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail Society, spokesperson of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Taungana Ndoro emphasised the Government’s stance.
“The ministry, in July 2023, issued a revised directive, replacing the 2007 director’s circular, to enforce safer school environments under the Education Act and Zimbabwe School Health Policy,” said Ndoro.
“The circular mandates all learning institutions to eliminate bullying and violence, ensuring physical, emotional and social safety for pupils. Bullying, such as what happened at St Ignatius College in January this year, includes verbal (threats, teasing), physical (harm, theft), emotional (isolation, humiliation), social (exclusion) and cyberbullying (online abuse).”
Ndoro said bullying threatens learner safety, mental health and academic performance, risking long-term anti-social behaviour in perpetrators and trauma in victims.
“Schools must develop anti-bullying policies with input from staff, parents, pupils and community leaders, including clear codes of conduct regarding forbidden items, reporting channels and protocols for addressing incidents.
“Psychosocial support for victims and rehabilitative programmes for offenders are available. A zero-tolerance approach is critical.”
The definition of bullying emphasises its deliberate, repeated nature, targeting victims who struggle to defend themselves and stemming from a power imbalance.
The causes are multifaceted, involving individual vulnerabilities and negative contextual factors within families, schools and communities.
Cases
In 2023, a 15-year-old boy from Bulawayo tragically took his own life after complaining of bullying.
During the same year, a Form Two learner at Msengezi High School suffered a broken jaw.
Another horrifying incident at St Columba’s High School in Bulawayo involved a Form Four learner being stabbed.
Last year, a disturbing video circulated of four girls from Ruwangwe Day Secondary School in Manicaland assaulting another learner.
Unesco’s 2019 report “Behind the numbers: Ending school violence and bullying” highlighted that nearly half of learners in Eastern and Southern Africa reported experiencing bullying within a month at school.
“Within Zimbabwe’s boarding school system, the issue appears particularly acute,” noted the report.
Specifically, it indicated that in Zimbabwe, 47,1 percent of learners have been bullied at school at least once a month.
The prevalence of bullying is higher among girls (50,1 percent) than boys (43,9 percent).
In terms of the type of bullying, physical bullying is the most common (23,1 percent), followed by sexual bullying (10,9 percent) and psychological bullying (5,4 percent).
The most common driver of bullying was cited as physical appearance, constituting 16,2 percent; followed by race, nationality or colour at 12,7 percent; and religion at 6,1 percent.
The report also provides data on physical fights and attacks among learners in Zimbabwe, with 39,4 percent of schoolchildren having been involved in a physical fight and 31,9 percent being physically attacked.
A study by Professor Fred Zindi, “Bullying at boarding school: A Zimbabwe study”, explicitly states that “almost everyone who has attended boarding school in Zimbabwe has a story to tell about bullying”.
Prof Zindi’s research underscores that this abuse, often covert, is potentially underestimated by school authorities.
President Mnangagwa acknowledged the gravity of the situation in 2023, urging parents, church and traditional leaders to actively combat bullying, noting its tragic consequences.
“It is worrisome from the reports I get that some end up committing suicide while some kill each other due to bullying. Parents should play their role in telling their children not to participate in bullying others,” said President Mnangagwa.
Mahlanze’s experience at St Ignatius College raises critical questions about the effectiveness of anti-bullying policies and the commitment of institutions to truly prioritise learner well-being. His son’s continued suffering and the perceived reluctance to hold perpetrators fully accountable paint a disturbing picture.
Effects
Harare-based psychologist and socio-support expert Dr Monica Chingwizi provides a professional perspective.
“As a psychologist, I feel the issue of bullying in our schools is deeply concerning. It is not just ‘kids being kids’; it has far-reaching consequences,” she said.
“Bullying often stems from mirroring witnessed behaviour or personal insecurities projected onto others. A lack of empathy and poor social skills also contribute.
“The impact is devastating, leading to anxiety, fear, isolation, plummeting academic performance, depression and low self-esteem.
“Emotional scars can persist into adulthood. Intervention is crucial for both victims and perpetrators.”
There was need, Dr Chingwizi said, for education and awareness campaigns for learners, teachers and parents.
“Schools must foster empathy and respect through social-emotional learning programmes. Clear, consistently enforced anti-bullying policies are essential,” she said.
“Early intervention and support for both victims and perpetrators are critical, as is empowering bystanders to safely intervene. Parental involvement through open communication and collaboration with schools is vital. Addressing bullying requires a collective effort to create safer learning environments.”
Crime
Harare province police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza said police are ready to take action.
“When schools report bullying, we deploy our force and investigate. The outcome determines the route taken. Students also have the right to report cases directly to the police and we open a docket as a criminal charge, treating it like any other crime until the culprits are brought before the courts. Everyone has a right to justice,” he said.
“We recently did this at Glen View High School.”
Mahlanze’s case has now received fresh impetus.
“I got a call from the ministry (Primary and Secondary Education). The officials expressed that they want the school’s decision to be revisited and will advise me,” he said.
As the new term dawns, Mahlanze’s plea resonates with countless parents across the country. The troubled father’s story is clear testament that the scars of bullying are not just physical; they are emotional and psychological wounds demanding genuine support and a fundamental shift in school culture that truly embodies zero tolerance to violence.
For his son and countless others, the hope is that this new term will mark not a return to fear, but a step towards healing and a safer learning environment for all.
Online Reporter