A SCHOOL chaplain is being accused of entering girls’ hostels, ordering them to take off their skirts so that he sees if they are wearing skin tights.
Furious parents of the schoolgirls, who are pupils at St
Anne’s Goto High School in Wedza, have reacted to the abuse of their kids by
petitioning the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to take action.
The man in the eye of the storm is school chaplain, Clinton
Nyakamha.
Repeated efforts to contact him yesterday were fruitless.
There were a number of allegations against the authorities
at the school, including claims that the School Development Committee elections
were rigged, while standards have gone down.
Contacted for comment, school head, Kudzai Mutseyekwa, said
he was driving and could not comment.
“I am driving at the
moment, I am in the middle of traffic, will call later, nditori pakati
pemagonyeti” he said.
Under pressure from parents, Mutseyekwa, released a stamped
letter stating they were investigating the issue.
The letter reads: “As the Head of St Anne’s Goto High
School, I regret the negative report that broke the school’s various WhatsApp
platforms over the weekend relating to allegations of abuse of female students
by the School Chaplin.
“I am pleased to inform you that senior teachers, led by
the Deputy Head, are conducting some investigations so that we can establish
what exactly transpired.
“Once the investigations have been finalised, the reports
will be shared with you as the parents, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary
Education and the police.
“Thank you for your usual cooperation.”
Parents also raised their grievances through a petition.
“We the undersigned parents and legal guardians of St
Anne’s Goto High School students petition the Ministry of Primary and Secondary
Education and the responsible authority to nullify the elections that were held
on June 4 and 5 due to procedural irregularities.
“Parents were denied their right to vote more than once.
“We now hereby request the holding of fresh elections that
should be conducted under one venue and in the presence of Ministry of Primary
and Secondary Education officials.”
In a WhatsApp group, an official from the school, said:
“Our dear parents and guardians, may I clearly state that
the sensitive issue of the girls, who are reported to have complained about the
conduct of the Chaplin, is currently being investigated accordingly.
“May I humbly appeal to you, our esteemed parents and
guardians, to give a brief chance to these sober and earnest investigations.
“Once finalised
soon, the correct findings will be channelled to you at the earliest possible
time.
“Meanwhile, the matron and the girls’ warden are totally in
charge of the affairs at the girls’ hostels.
“All the other issues will also be promptly addressed.”
Sources said there was a tense atmosphere at the school.
“The problem started when SDC elections were rigged last month.
As parents of those kids, we are not happy at all, chakashata ngachibude
pachena not kuti vhara aiwa because wako mwana haasi affected ne situation.”
Another parent said: “These guys rigged the elections and
appointed their friends who are taking the school down.
“The pass rate is also going down, sewage all over, the
standards are bad.”
Some of the parents expressed their anger in WhatsApp
groups.
“Dai Goto aiziva kuti vana ava takavawana tadya
zvisingadyiwe kah, vaibata vana vedu mushe.
“Isu vamwe takapihwa one iyeye chete mofugurisawo hembe
hamuoni kuti mabata panopisa?” reads one of the messages sent on the WhatsApp
group.
Below are some of the responses by parents:
Rev vari kuiita basa rekuyenda kuGirls Hostel
kunovafugirisa maskirts checking kuti vane matights here, why? – Concerned
Parent.
**
Hezvooo inini wangu akangoti akanzarwo futi, no
negotiations ipapo, ndikutoendako ne bhemba. – Concerned Parent.
***
Zvakaipisa munhu wa Mwari, thank you for the enlightenment
kana ari manyepo ngavadaire chero mune humbowo even from vana it’s good. –
Concerned Parent. H Metro
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