Parents in Marange have kept 460 students home from Mabvengwa Primary School for five days to protest a headmaster accused of practicing witchcraft at two previous schools. The education official, identified as Mrs Gowora, faced similar rejections from families at Nyamauru Primary and Zamba Primary before authorities transferred her to the rural institution. Classrooms sat empty while teachers waited at their desks and community leaders met under a tree to address the crisis.
Provincial Education Director Richard Gabaza defended the appointment and said constitutional law prohibits accusing people of supernatural harm. Parents said they would send their children to a school five kilometers away rather than accept the administrator. The boycott began on Monday after mourners at a nearby funeral recognized Gowora from online videos about the earlier protests.
Two elderly women spent a night in custody after police accompanied the headmaster to campus on October 6. Families vowed to continue the protest through the term unless officials remove Gowora. Teachers reported frustration over disrupted lessons as students prepare for end-of-year examinations.
Provincial Education Director Richard Gabaza defended the appointment and said constitutional law prohibits accusing people of supernatural harm. Parents said they would send their children to a school five kilometers away rather than accept the administrator. The boycott began on Monday after mourners at a nearby funeral recognized Gowora from online videos about the earlier protests.
Two elderly women spent a night in custody after police accompanied the headmaster to campus on October 6. Families vowed to continue the protest through the term unless officials remove Gowora. Teachers reported frustration over disrupted lessons as students prepare for end-of-year examinations.
