Recently, Harare High Court judge Justice Munamato
Mutevedzi acquitted a Chitungwiza member of an apostolic sect who fatally
assaulted her son for being initiated into the Nyau cult (zvigure).
Yeukai Mutero walked away free after the judge ruled that
she had acted lawfully in the corporal punishment she administered.
Mutero and her brother Ocean Mutero, who is still at large,
teamed up to beat the 12-year-old Desmond Matsatse with mulberry sticks for he
had joined the Gule WaMkulu.
The court found she had used a light switch, had not hit
vulnerable parts of the body, had used moderate force, and could not have
foreseen the fatal result, which could also have been generated by previous
recent assaults on the boy by others.
Addressing scores of congregants during St Joseph Mission
Roman Catholic Church’s centenary celebrations in Kezi, Matabeleland South
province yesterday, President Mnangagwa noted that bullying continued to rear
its ugly head in schools and called on parents and guardians to nip it in the
bud by disciplining their children at home.
“Recently, I got a report from Bulawayo Provincial Affairs
and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube that there are instances where school
pupils fight and bully each other resulting in injuries and in some
circumstances death,” he said.
“That is unacceptable and such pupils do not deserve to be
in school, but behind bars or rehabilitation centres. If you want your daughter
or son not to go behind bars, make sure you tell them at home that no bullying.
Don’t trouble others, but love others and that is my philosophy.”
The President’s calls follow the recent suicide of a
15-year-old Hamilton High School pupil in Bulawayo after complaining of
bullying at his school.
Jayden Saudan, who was a Form Three pupil at Hamilton High
School, drank a pesticide at his family home in Montrose suburb and died the
following day.
Jayden’s death came barely a month after another Hamilton
High School learner fatally stabbed a Founders High School pupil, Wayne Ndlovu
(16).
Two boys from Hamilton High School were arrested in
connection with Wayne’s death and one of them has since appeared in court
facing murder charges.
The learner’s death was a culmination of a series of turf
wars pitting pupils from various schools in the city.
President Mnangagwa said drugs and substance abuse is
destroying the younger generation and urged parents to discipline their
children.
“There is a danger
that drugs and substance abuse may destroy the younger generation. I urge the
parents not to spare the rod and don’t worry about what the Americans do, they
do what they want in America, and here in Zimbabwe, children should be
disciplined,” he said.
“I once again urge the church to be mindful of the social
ills which are threatening the very fabric of our society. The church and other
social institutions must join the fight against bullying as well as drug and
substance abuse,” said President Mnangagwa.
“As families, communities and churches, we must continually
intercede for our children. They are our hope and future. As Proverbs 22:6
says: train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not
depart from it.”
President Mnangagwa also called on churches to foster
peace, unity, and love within communities, more so in view of the forthcoming
harmonised elections.
The President is yet to proclaim the date for harmonised
elections following the gazetting of the final Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
(ZEC) delimitation report last month.
“Violence has no place in our society. Peace, unity, and
harmony must be maintained before, during, and after the election season.
Indeed, the Bible in Genesis 13 verse 8 emphasises that ‘we are brethren’.
Where there is unity, God commands His blessings, and God does not pour out his
blessings where there is disharmony,” he said.
President Mnangagwa
said under the Second Republic, no person or group should be allowed to sow
seeds of hate, division and disunity among Zimbabweans.
“Under my administration, we reject the notions of ‘us’ and
‘them’. Tribalism and regionalism, among other divisive tendencies, which act
against the realisation of our collective development aspirations are not
acceptable,” he said.
“There is no bambazonke, Zimbabwe is our home together,
given to us by Almighty God without us asking Him. As we develop our country,
no one and no place will be left behind. Every single Zimbabwean is important
no matter where they live.” Herald
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