Uproar over Zanu PF school closure

Uproar over Zanu PF school closure

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By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE'S ruling Zanu PF party last night defended itself from heavy opposition criticism after closing down a school two weeks before the end of the school term in order to prepare for its annual conference.

Opposition officials described the move to shut down Goromonzi High School on Thursday this week as a "gross abuse of public office".

"Anywhere else, the concerned minister would have resigned," Professor Jonathan Moyo, the Tsholotsho MP said.

The official opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) also protested, accusing President Robert Mugabe's government of "sending the wrong signals about the value of education in this country".

"Once again, Zanu PF is putting its own interests above those of suffering Zimbabweans," said Silas Mangono, the education spokesman for a faction of the MDC led by Arthur Mutambara.

But State Security Minister Didymus Mutasa, a former Goromonzi student who sits on a committee that directed the school to close early, rejected criticism claiming "all the students are happy to be going home to their parents".

Mutasa said: "The headmaster of the school was quite happy to close early, and the children were excited when I met them. It's the end of the year and they have written their exams and now have very little to do."

Zanu PF asked the school to close early so that workers can begin renovations on some of the school's buildings in preparation for the annual get-together of the party's luminaries and provincial officials.

The Zanu PF conference, to be attended by President Robert Mugabe, runs from December 13 - 17.

Furious parents who spoke to New Zimbabwe.com on Wednesday described the move as a "scandal".

One parent said: "I paid fees for the duration of the term. I am not sure Zanu PF will be refunding me."

Goromonzi High School in Mashonaland East is one of the country's leading schools. Several prominent Zimbabweans went through the school including Education Minister Aeneas Chigwedere, Health Minister David Parirenyatwa, Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi and Mashonaland East governor, David Karimanzira.

Moyo, who served as Information Minister between 2000 and 2005 said closing down a school to pave way for a political gathering was "immoral".

He said: "This is a gross abuse of power. Morally, it's not too different from the looting of Ziscosteel.

"It's worse when you consider that only Zanu PF and no other group or opposition party in the country can do this kind of thing. It's not a government function, or a national event and Zanu PF has no right to do this.

"Anywhere else, the concerned minister would have to resign, more-so if you consider he is a former headmaster at the school who ought to know better."

Goromonzi headmaster Abisha Mujeni was unavailable to comment, but the MDC suggested he may have been powerless to resist demands from Zanu PF to close the school early.

Mangono said: "We all know Zanu PF uses unorthodox means to get its way around and I fear we may never know what the headmaster really thinks about the early closure of his school by a political party that rules through fear."

Asked if he was comfortable with the decision to close down a school, when opposition parties could not do the same with public facilities, Mutasa reacted angrily, his voice rising.

"I am not an ordinary member of society but a government minister. I have a right to make those kind of decisions. Don't confuse me with Tsvangirai," Mutasa said, referring to the MDC's founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, who now leads a faction of the party.

The Zanu PF conference comes as pressure grows on President Mugabe to announce his exit plan when his term expires in 2008.

Mugabe, 83 next February, has said he wants to retire and write books, but has stifled the succession debate within his party. He has referred to ambitious politicians positioning themselves to fight for Zanu PF leadership as "witches" who can't wait to see him go.

Asked if there would be a discussion on the succession issue at the conference, Mutasa said: "There will be nothing of that sort."

Rural Amenities Minister Emerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Joice Mujuru lead the most visible factions within Zanu PF, but political analysts say former finance minister Simba Makoni and current Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono may be making their own political calculations.

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