The ManicaPost
Freedom Mutanda: Post correspondent
Parents that have children attending school at Mount Selinda High School are livid that UCCZ did not return the D4D luxury vehicle as per the agreement hammered in a meeting at Chipinge School where President Ngadziore, Reverend Watson Bundwa, the Head and the full complement of the School Development Committee met the head of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Dr Sylivia Masango-Utete.Sources close to the meeting who did not want their names to be published told The Manica Post that the Permanent Secondary did not mince her words when she said the D4D Toyota Hilux had to be returned to the school by November 11, 2016.
“Dr Masango-Utete was frank. She asked the church if it wanted to work with the Government or it intended to operate as a private institution. She reminded the Responsible Authority that it is them that recommended Reverend Watson Bundwa to be the head of Mount Selinda. As such, it cannot just wake up and tell the government that Bundwa can’t be the head of Mount Selinda High School,’’ a source said.
Since 2014, a wrangle between church authorities and the head threatened to wipe away all the strides the school had made in sprucing its image as it had lost its lustre. In 2013, the school won the provincial merit award but that was not considered by the powers that be as church allegations of arrogance and impropriety on the part of Reverend Bundwa flew in many directions.
One of the bones of contention was the issue of the tithe that the school had to remit to the Responsible Authority.
Parents argued that 10% was too much as the core business of the school would be neglected if a huge chunk of school fees was channelled towards the upkeep of the Responsible Authority.
It was in that context that the Permanent Secretary called for an extraordinary meeting where a constitution for the school would be made which factors in a special levy for the ‘tithe’ coming from each child. The EGM is pencilled in for December 3, 2016.
In her closing remarks, she urged the spirit of forgiveness to come and camp at Mount Selinda.
“I can’t liken you to Jesus Christ but your deeds must show you are a minister of religion who must learn to forgive and fight for progress,’’ Dr Masango-Utete said that pointedly at President Ngadziore.
At the time of going to print, the church had not returned the car to the school. As 3 December draws closer, many parents are eager to see an end to infighting which does not help students in any way. However, the SDC may overturn the decision to have an EGM on the said date when it meets on November 26. If it does, that would be defiance against a government directive.
Will the soap opera at Mount Selinda High School ever end?
