Dispute forces school closure

Midlands Bureau

Gweru upmarket private school, Lingfield Christian Academy, has effectively closed following a family dispute over control of the institution.

One of the school’s directors, Mrs Stella Mabandla, who had been fighting with her son for the control of the school, said the school had effectively closed.

“Yes, for the sake of my family, the school has closed, the family comes first,” she said.

She could not reveal their resolution over the property following the closure of the school.

Over 20 teachers who were employed by the school are yet to get their terminal benefits.

They said they have tried to engage the school directors to no avail.

“We have also reported to the Labour Court, but we are not getting any joy there,” said one of the teachers.

“The Labour Court has said we can’t sue Mrs Mabandla and husband Mr Morton, who are the school directors, arguing that we should instead sue the school.”

Mrs Mabandla said the teachers should visit the school for a round-table discussion.

“We have said they should come to school so that we talk,” she said.

“Why should they go to journalists? Are they going to be paid by the newspaper?”

Mrs Mabandla accused some of the teachers of contributing to the collapse of the school.

“Most of them have cases to answer. Some pupils’ results did not come, so we have said to those teachers they should come and we sit down, but no one is forthcoming,” she said.

“They have gone to the Labour Court, now they are in the newsroom, it will not solve anything.”