Student mauled as they demonstrate at St Faith Mission

Latwell Nyangu and Talent Gore

DRAMA continues to unfold at St Faith Mission School in Rusape following a demonstration by students yesterday in which one student ended up being bitten by a police dog.

This follows a stand-off between the church, school authorities and parents over the paymenrt of a US$600 mission fund at the Anglican Church school.

Reverend Taurai Mavhezha was under fire last week for attacking parents and guardians who failed to pay their children’s mission fees.

Mavhezha was backed by security guards and dogs. The incident sparked outrage with some parents calling for Mavhezha to be disciplined and for the church to revisit its approach to financing mission work.

However, the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland expressed its intention to pursue the removal of St Faith’s High School head, Arnold Makamba, following the disturbances.

Manicaland Diocese Bishop Eric Ruwona told the Herald the disturbances were being caused by the head’s failure to recognise and respect the church’s values and rules for its schools.

Addressing the students in a video obtained by our sister paper Manica Post, Makamba said:

“I know muri vana vane tsika, zvichemo zvenyu zvanzwika, I was with the authorities, they are going to look into your concerns.

“I think we have expressed your concerns, the authorities will go to the school so that they see, tagara zvakanaka kuchikoro.

“We should show maturity,” he said.

Sources who attended the march said students walked for about 13km to Rusape to raise their complaints to the Makoni District school inspector.

A parent said:

“Vana vanofira mahara, imagine arumwa nembwa uyo acharapiswa kusvikepi nyangwe akarapwa asi vanga raapo for life apa parent yakabvisa mabhuru mangani kuchikoro.

“Vabereki ngavapedze nyaya dzawo zvinhu zvigadzirisike.”