Parents stage demo against school head

Oswell Moyo Chronicle Reporter
ANTI-Riot police were yesterday called to control parents demonstrating against Magwegwe Government Primary School headmistress Stella Mhlanga for allegedly sending home pupils wearing uniforms that were not bought at a local retail outlet. More than 100 parents and guardians turned up at the school demanding the headmistress’s dismissal and some threatened to assault her.

A Chronicle news crew visited the school at around 9AM and parents were seen milling around the school’s administration block after the headmistress had locked herself in her office.

Some of the parents were carrying placards denouncing the headmistress.

One of the placards read: “we don’t want you MaMhlanga pack your bags and go. Sesibekezele kwenela. (We have had enough).”

Rosemary Sibanda, a parent who was among the protesters, said Mhlanga turned away her Grade Two child (name supplied) yesterday for wearing a uniform without a Toppers tag.

“Mrs Mhlanga has been forcing parents to buy school uniforms at Toppers; failure to do that your child will be sent away. I’m saddened by this issue because my child isn’t attending school as I had bought shorts and shirts from a different store,” said Sibanda.

The School Development Committee (SDC) chairperson, Rita Chitiyo, accused the headmistress of dictatorial tendencies.

She said some parents were verbally insulted whenever they sought any service from the school.

“I was at home when I was told that parents were demonstrating against the head. I can’t deny that the headmistress isn’t in good books with parents. She doesn’t respect us. Parents living in nearby areas are failing to get places for their children,” said Chitiyo.

She claimed that Mhlanga, who joined the school in September last year, fired three Early Child Development (ECD) teachers saying she wanted teachers from Masvingo.

“On Friday, last week, three ECD teachers (names supplied) were fired over unknown reasons. When we asked as the school committee, we were told that she preferred teachers from Masvingo not Bulawayo,” she said. Some parents said Mhlanga did not appreciate the economic environment as she did not accept payment plans for school fees, even from grandparents who were looking after their grandchildren.

“We don’t want this woman anymore. On Friday, I came with $20 to make part payment of school fees which is $37 and she declined to accept the money. I was embarrassed and even told that I wasn’t educated. Please may you help us, we’re feed up with this woman,” said Nobuhle Sibanda, who has a child in Grade Three at the school.

The demonstration lasted for close to an hour before police instructed the protesters to disperse.

Mhlanga told Chronicle that there was lack of communication between the parents and her.

“Who called you journalists? So you think we can’t solve our problems. There’s nothing big, it was just lack of communication with parents,” said Mhlanga.

Bulawayo Provincial Education Director Dan Moyo said he was yet to receive a report on the matter.

He, however, advised parents to report such incidents to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in order for any issues to be addressed amicably.