Mthokozisi Ncube
A KNIFE scare involving pupils from Hamilton and Gifford high schools has renewed fears over escalating school violence in Bulawayo, with police stepping up awareness campaigns and engaging school authorities.
The latest confrontation reportedly erupted last Tuesday, with a pupil allegedly producing a knife before learners scattered as police officers rushed to the scene.
It remains unclear which school the learner allegedly armed with the knife attends, while the circumstances surrounding the confrontation are still sketchy.
Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said police were engaging schools to curb violence among learners.
“We are doing campaigns at school and engaging school authorities,” she said.
The incident has reignited concerns over the safety of pupils outside school gates, particularly as previous confrontations involving learners have resulted in serious injuries and death.
In February 2023, Founders High School learner Wayne Ndlovu, 16, died after being stabbed in the neck during a confrontation involving Hamilton learners.
Reports said Ndlovu had allegedly intervened after his friend was bullied, exposing the deadly consequences of school disputes escalating into violence.
In July 2025, a Form Four learner from Gifford Boys High School suffered a broken leg and fractured ribs after allegedly being attacked by boys from another school along Lobengula Street and Sixth Avenue.
In August 2025, Inspector Msebele also warned against bullying and gang fights in Bulawayo’s city centre, particularly around school-closing time.
Police appealed to parents, guardians, shop owners and commuters to help prevent confrontations involving learners.
Meanwhile, in May this year, Gifford learners and teachers took part in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education’s “Not in My School” campaign, which seeks to promote safer learning environments and tackle bullying.
However, the latest knife scare raises questions about whether awareness campaigns are translating into safer schools and public spaces.
Parents, teachers and school authorities have a role to play in identifying disputes early, while learners must understand that carrying weapons and resorting to violence can have devastating consequences.
Police have highlighted school campaigns and engagement with authorities as part of their response. Further details on investigations into the latest confrontation and any additional preventive measures were not immediately available.
