Moffat Mungazi
Post Reporter
HARTZELL High School is embroiled in a bullying scandal, with allegations of learners being targeted by their peers, prompting authorities to descend hard on the perpetrators.
A social media post has sparked concern, detailing disturbing claims of physical and emotional abuse, including allegations of learners being forced to drink urine.
The school and church authorities are accused of inaction in response to the complaints, prompting officials to take measures to address the situation and hold perpetrators accountable.
Hartzell High School head, Mr Leonard Mutibu has since stamped his authority on disciplinary issues, especially the bullying of fellow learners.
Mr Mutibu referred questions to the United Methodist Church in Zimbabwe education secretary, Reverend Munyaradzi Timire and Mutasa District Schools Inspector, Mrs Chipo Mlambo.
“Kindly get in touch with our church’s education secretary or the District Schools Inspector for Mutasa,” said Mr Mutibu.
Reverend Timire further referred questions to the church’s director of communications, Reverend Taurai Maforo, who said was not briefed about the matter, adding that he would only respond after the Easter holiday.
“I have not yet heard anything about that issue. I will reach out to Reverend Timire and the school to get the finer details. As it stands, we are preparing for the Easter holidays, and everyone in the church is occupied. We will only be free after Easter, and I will give you the details next Tuesday,” said Reverend Maforo.
Mrs Mlambo said she was not aware of the issue, and flatly refused to entertain further enquiries.
“I have not heard anything about that, and I cannot respond to what you are saying because I have not been given the permission to do so. I am not the spokesperson of the ministry,” said Mrs Mlambo.
Efforts to get a comment from Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Richard Gabaza were fruitless as he was not in the office and his mobile was not reachable.
However, a parent, Mr Washington Ziwiwi, admitted that his child was suspended from the institution twice for bullying.
Mr Ziwiwi said his son was removed from being a boarder to a day scholar.
He, however, denied that there were learners who were forced to drink urine as investigations carried out did not stumbled on such evidence.
Mr Ziwiwi said his political rivals were using the bullying allegations to soil his reputation. He also denied ever making donations to the school.
“Yes, my child was suspended for two weeks for the first time last year due to the issue of bullying. He then repeated the same offence this year, and was suspended again for two weeks. He was readmitted on condition that he ceases to be a boarder. He was not the only one.
“When he was suspended for the first time, I went to the school with other parents to attend the hearings. Pertaining the issue of some learners being forced to drink urine, those are lies. Investigations were done, and it was found to be false. They just want to add weight to the allegations.
“I have never donated anything to the school, apart from paying school fees. I actually struggle to raise the fees. My political affiliation should have nothing to do with my son’s activities at the school. If I was using political influence, would my child have been suspended twice, including being turned into a day scholar? I actually had a conversation with the headmaster, where I was considering transferring my child because he was commuting from home during the last two weeks of the term.
“Last year, I appeared before a panel of the School Development Committee and teachers when my child first had issues. Just like any other parent, I begged for forgiveness and leniency. He then repeated the same offence this year, and he was removed as boarder. I do not know why these people are singling out my child alone?” said Mr Ziwiwi.
Online Reporter