Online Reporter
George Maponga-Masvingo Bureau
NEARLY 200 learners at Riverton Academy Murinye, located about 65km southeast of Masvingo City, have been given a lifeline following Government intervention to resolve a standoff threatening the school’s opening.
The impasse involved the school’s proprietor, Mr Philemon Mutangiri and Chief Murinye, the traditional leader overseeing the area.
Trouble began on Sunday when Chief Murinye, born Ephias Munodawafa, used his Isuzu truck to block a gravel road leading to Riverton Academy, which opened this year with an inaugural 180 boarding learners at Machingura Village in Murinye communal lands.
Mr Mutangiri, who owns the Riverton Group of Schools, built the new facility on his parents’ homestead, occupying about 2,5 hectares in the area.
The blockade created a massive traffic jam, as parents taking their children to school formed long queues.
This led to a verbal altercation between Chief Murinye and Mr Mutangiri.
Access to the school was restored only after police intervention, ordering Chief Murinye to cease blocking the road.
Yesterday, a meeting was convened at the office of the Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira, where the impasse was resolved.
The discussions allowed the school to continue operating while authorities worked on regularising its registration as a learning institution.
However, Chief Murinye left the meeting early, expressing feelings of intimidation, particularly regarding how social media framed his attendance as being “summoned” by the minister.
Minister Chadzamira assured the parties that Riverton Academy would remain open.
“Ordinarily, the right procedure would be for papers (approving a project) to be ready first and then construction work following thereafter, but in this case, we appreciate that it was vice versa.
“All the same, the school will remain open while the owners regularise their papers.
“There is nothing that stops the school from remaining open because it can operate as a satellite school under the licence of other existing schools under the Riverton Academy Group,” said Minister Chadzamira.
The minister advised traditional leaders to support developmental projects within their jurisdictions rather than obstructing them.
“Our message to our chiefs is that they should be seen promoting development in their areas and not block initiatives designed to help our people.
“The Second Republic is particular about improving the ease of doing business, which is key to the attainment of Vision 2030 goals,” he emphasised.
Mr Mutangiri reassured parents that new learners at Riverton Academy would not be stranded.
“The school will remain open and continue operating. Yes, we have not finished working on all the required paperwork for full registration, but we are working on it, and construction will continue,” he said.
Presently, Riverton Academy Murinye has 180 boarding students, 30 of whom are local residents benefiting from flexible payment terms as part of community reinvestment.
Said Mr Mutangiri: “I built the school on my father’s land. It occupies only 2,5 hectares, and I received permission from local village heads.
“The local community is very supportive.”
The friction between Mr Mutangiri and Chief Murinye reportedly arose when the businessman failed to meet the chief’s demands for permission to build the school.
Mr Mutangiri expressed that his commitment was to provide quality education to rural areas, ensuring local children have better educational opportunities.
Chief Murinye, meanwhile, said that he will continue to fight for what he called “justice”.
“I left the meeting because I felt they were intimidating me. I also discovered that the verdict was already agreed upon that the school should remain open.
“I will keep on fighting and will appeal to the highest office in the land for recourse,” he declared.
Government intervention not only resolved the immediate issue for Riverton Academy Murinye, but also highlighted the importance of dialogue and cooperation in addressing community disputes that can affect educational access for students.
