adminoperate at the premises against a Government directive issued last week to vacate the place.
Armed with a High Court order, college officials say they will remain at the property.
This is despite Government’s order for the college to vacate the premises “with immediate effect,” because it does not have a licence to operate at the premises.
Herentals College officials said they would not bow down to the protests.
The placard waving parents said they were now hopeless as the Government directive had been defied. When The Herald visited the school yesterday, the school logo on the walls had been erased, leaving Herentals
billboards.
As the parents protested Herentals College officials were carrying out their duties. Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Lazarus Dokora, yesterday said what Herentals was doing was illegal as the
Government order was still standing.
“We are appealing to the police to use force to evict these people because it seems they will not go peacefully,” he said.
A Mrs Muchaneta Masuku said: “No one is above the law in Zimbabwe and these people should not be an exception. Our children are always being threatened by these bouncers because they are always here. We don’t know who these guys need for them to vacate the premises,” said another parent.
Cold Comfort School Development Association committee member, Mr Simon Manjengwa, said they were relying on Government to execute the eviction.
“Since Government gave the order, they should help us to have these people (Herentals) out. We will never win this battle alone and we are calling on the police and Government to help us,” he said.
Herentals officials said the High Court had given them the green light to continue operating at the premises.
“I think the law has put across our point and we will abide by the court order. As far as we are concerned we will remain operating at the premises because we have been authorised to do so,” said one official who declined to be named for professional reasons. Education, Sport, Arts and Culture Minister David Coltart, said investigations by the Government had established that Herentals College “cannot and should not operate at the site.”
Minister Coltart said in terms of the Education Act 2006, as amended, individuals should not establish and maintain a school unless it is registered and anybody who contravenes this provision shall be guilty of an offence. Herentals College has been embroiled in an ownership wrangle with Release Power Investments, a local company that runs Cold Comfort Primary School.The wrangle has been disrupting lessons at the school since the beginning of this term, leaving over 700 pupils stranded. Clashes between parents and Herentals College officials had become common. Herentals College had taken charge of the school on the strength of a High Court order obtained two months ago. During that wrangle, it was established that the warring parties held two title deeds to the property at the centre of the dispute.
Online Reporter