Moffat Mungazi
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has reversed its decision to appoint a new deputy headmistress at Zamba Primary School in Mutare, following strong opposition from parents and guardians, who staged a demonstration on the opening day last Tuesday.
Acting Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Richard Gabaza, confirmed the incident at Zamba Government Primary School, where parents resisted the posting of a Mrs Gowora as the school deputy head, alleging that she practised satanism.
“On the first day schools opened well, save for an incident here in Mutare at Zamba Government Primary School where parents resisted the posting of a deputy head to their school, alleging that she practices satanism. However, urgent action was taken to remedy the situation, and there is now calm at the school,” he said.
Angry parents gathered at the school, disrupting the opening day with protest songs against Mrs Gowora’s transfer from Nyamauru Primary School in Dangamvura.
Protesting parents carried placards inscribed with messages such as: “Muroyi ngabaye now” (Witch must go now), “Gowora must go now”, “No to Satanism here”, and “Office must be closed until further notice”.
The parents then withdrew their children from classrooms and instructed them to return home. They subsequently forced the closure of the administration block, plastering posters on the entrance.
The school headmaster, Mr Vincent Chigwanda, was compelled to seek assistance from the Mutare District Schools Inspector’s office, while teachers remained in their classrooms.
Mutare District Schools Inspector (DSI), Mrs Tracy Mademutsa, later visited the school, and announced to the parents that Mrs Gowora’s deployment to the school had been withdrawn.
On Wednesday, during the school’s delayed first-term assembly meeting, a learner believed to be epileptic collapsed, further fuelling speculation about occultism.
The learner regained consciousness after some teachers prayed for her.
Investigations revealed that parents had begun organising the protest during the holidays upon learning of Mrs Gowora’s transfer to their school.
On Monday, the day before the school opened, parents tasked the School Development Committee (SDC) chairman, Mr Tichaona Kanombirira, and a committee member to present their opposition to Mrs Gowora’s deployment to the school to Mrs Mademutsa.
Mr Kanombirira confirmed the meeting with Mrs Mademutsa, arguing that they approached the ministry after hearing numerous allegations against Mrs Gowora during her time at Nyamauru Primary School.
He added that they were uncomfortable with her being at their school.
Mr Kanombirira said the parents’ decision to protest was not instigated by any external force, but rather by their desire to maintain a peaceful and conducive environment for their children.
The parents had previously approached the District Schools Inspector (DSI) to express their concerns, and request that Mrs Gowora not be deployed to their school. However, their plea was initially rejected, with the ministry stating that teacher deployment was their prerogative, not the parents.
“The issue being resisted by parents is the reason she was transferred from Nyamauru to Zamba. What Nyamauru parents rejected is the same concern we have. Demonstrations were also held against her at Nyamauru. The Mutare community is close-knit, and information spreads quickly. We cannot work with her here.
“When we learnt of her deployment on Monday, we met with the District Schools Inspector (DSI), accompanied by the SDC treasurer to express our concerns. We questioned the DSI about the rationale behind deploying someone with a controversial record to our school. We requested for a teacher without a history of demonstrations against her. Unfortunately, our plea was ignored. The ministry stated that teacher deployment was their prerogative, not the parents’. The headmaster claimed the issue was beyond his authority.
“Left with no choice, parents expressed their feelings through a peaceful demonstration on the opening day. Mrs Gowora was present, and I was informed that she was not harmed. Parents were exercising their right to express themselves peacefully. The District Schools Inspector (DSI) later visited the school and announced that the deputy head would no longer be deployed to our school, a decision we fully accepted. Parents were never incited to protest; it was their independent decision, made in
