School heads, endangered species?

Morris Mtisi
THE plight of headmasters and mistresses who fall victim to the ‘political’ ploys and machinations of hostile responsible authorities and power-hungry staff members is increasingly growing endemic in many schools countrywide. Instead of the teaching staff and responsible authorities supporting the school head to develop the school and work on improving the pass rate, what has become common are teachers who on one hand waste time plotting the downfall of heads and on the other responsible authorities who force heads to make schools their fund-raising projects. If they do not, school heads are removed and replaced by yes-men or women prepared to make the school the responsible authority’s cow that gives the milk.

Some of the stories of the transfers and or removals of these poor school heads read like typical Shakespearean tragedies.
When Julius Caesar became King of the Roman Empire, he was soon surrounded by power-hungry conspirators who mobilised an uprising which led to his assassination. Some of the champions of this conspiracy were members of his inner circle. Cassius was one of them and so was Casca. His best friend and official spokesman Mark Antony did not love him though he said he did. Brutus, the most learned and noblest of his countrymen, took part not only in the planning of Julius Caesar’s assassination but took part in the cold murder, much to the chagrin of the dying king who died with an expression of utter dismay and shock on his lips, “Et tu Brutee?” And you too Brutus?

In Macbeth, King Duncan promoted his valiant cousin Macbeth from a simple army commander to Thane of Glamis (We know this in medias res — meaning this happens before the play begins). The position of Thane can be likened to that of provincial governor in the Zimbabwean context. He (Caesar) rewarded him again for winning crucial battles against Norwegian and Spanish expansionists and made him Thane of Cawdor. But what does Macbeth do? He with the help of his ambitious wife who whets his own ambition, plots to assassinate him and they succeed. This is what Caesar got for bringing Macbeth close and allowing him to share his kingship.

In ANIMAL FARM (George Orwell) we do not forget Napoleon’s usurping of power from Snowball after countless shameful lies and acts of conspiracy to push him out of the farm. Napoleon literally built his ‘fame’ and power on disgraceful propaganda against Snowball, a comrade-in -arms turned enemy.

The story of Silas Kaziboni, first black headmaster of Hillcrest College and long-serving head, fits squarely into any of these famous Literature stories. He worked hard against odds of racial acceptance by many who never imagined this ‘small England’ would one day be headed by one head of ‘wrong’ colour.

The pint-bodied fundi and gentleman was not an administrative god or demi-god. Like every human being, like all of us, he obviously had his weaknesses and failures. There is truth in this. But there is also truth in that he worked hard for Hillcrest College to continue being a bastion of excellence though it meant turning it from majority white to almost entirely black. We all know what he did at that school for many years. If we are not enemies! Today where is Silas Kaziboni? Exactly where Snowball went or was driven by Napoleon and his bootlickers.

Another tale similar to Mr Kaziboni’s is the Saint Augustine’s one.
Mr Nyamukungwa was publicly humiliated, evicted from office and house on closing day and told not to come back the following term. Now, the Tsambe tale can be traced back to Father Kebble Prosser. He was toyi-toyied against and he left for England. End of story.

Then there was Stanley Runyowa. He, too, fell victim to the ploys of power-hungry gods and left the school he had visibly kept strong and going. Then there was Moses Mukoyi. He is now head of the best school in Manicaland if not the whole country. There was also Chiturumana. He came to replace Runyowa. Now it is Nyamukungwa who replaced Chiturumana who is shown the red card. In between there were J. Mtisi and Maurice Chakawa enjoying on and off temporary stints of leadership.

At Chibuwe High School in Chipinge, Mr Cames Khosa Chinduru left in similarly surprising circumstances. He did his best for the school for many years. Then he was a good boy, loved and trusted. Now he is at a small tea estate school perched on the border with Mozambique, like Kaziboni and Nyamukungwa not sure what hit him. Is there something eternally wrong with us Africans? Why do we enjoy using and abusing each other, as someone added, “…and abandon each other like condoms?”

I asked the Chief Executive Officer of the largest teachers’ association in Zimbabwe, ZIMTA, Mr Ngaaite Zimunya, what he thought about this development. This is what he said: “Very worrying. The workplace must be a place of professional conscience and morality. It is not fair to conspire against a leader whom you are serving under. Leaders are appointed by the will of God. And people must learn to wait for their turn of leadership. Conspiracy and plotting the downfall of school heads is primitive and barbaric.”