HARARE – A Mutasa magistrate in Manicaland has cleared of any wrongdoing, four villagers who were accused of misconduct after they staged protests over alleged abuse of funds at Sagambe Primary School in Honde Valley.
The four are Jennifer Sithole, Tafirenyika Boterere, Shadreck Manyange and Brighton Manyange.
“They had been standing trial at Mutasa Magistrates Court in Mutasa District in Manicaland province after they were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers together with a three-year-old toddler and Esther Kuseri, who was pregnant at the time of arrest, and charged with disorderly conduct in a public place as defined in section 41 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act,” said Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) who were representing them.
The State alleged Sithole, Manyange, Boterere and Manyange, who reside in Sagambe village in Mutasa District in Manicaland province, masterminded a protest against Evans Mwaturura, the school head at Sagambe Primary School, who stood accused by some parents and guardians, of presiding over maladministration at the school.
“The villagers were also accused of stopping school children from attending lessons at Sagambe Primary School,” lawyers said.
Allegations of maladministration had been raised during a School Development Committee (SDC) Annual General Meeting, which was held at Sagambe Primary School, where some parents intended to raise several concerns against Mwaturura.
The disgruntled parents had sought to engage officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and eventually a meeting was held with officials from the ministry in the presence of some ZRP officers from Ruda Police Station.
Kuseri was arrested during the meeting for allegedly raising her voice against an official at the consultation.
She was later released on Thursday 7 March 2024 after she paid a fine for disorderly conduct.
Kuseri, according to lawyers, opted to pay an admission of guilt fine for disorderly conduct in a public place because she was pregnant and the conditions of police detention were making her uncomfortable and she was not comfortable with the inconvenience of court processes considering her condition.
Chikosa, who is the former SDC chairperson at Sagambe Primary School, was separately charged with contravening section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry.
He was accused of writing a list of grievances levelled against Mwaturura, which had been presented at the meeting with officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
Chikosa was removed from remand and advised that he would be summoned to stand trial if prosecutors decide to pursue the matter.
On 4 September 2024, Mutasa Magistrate Artwell Sanyatwe acquitted Sithole, Manyange, Boterere and Manyange after finding them not guilty at the close of the prosecution case.
