Govt probes barefooted pupil fiasco

By Takunda Maodza recently in BOCHA

GOVERNMENT has dispatched a team to Mweyamutsvene Mission School to investigate why the headmaster’s wife Mrs Nyasha Rubende barred a Form Four pupil, Belvin Chibi, from writing his final zimsec examinations.

Belvin, who had registered to write five subjects, was barred by Mrs Rubende from sitting for three papers — English (Paper 1 and 2) and Commerce — because he had no school shoes.

The pupil is an orphan who stays with his 65-year old grandmother, Mrs Edna Musagomba. Belvin’s father is late while his mother, Mrs Chamwaita Chibi, is a vendor in South Africa. Manicaland Provincial Education director Mr Edward Shumba confirmed a team was dispatched to Mweyamutsvene Mission last Friday and investigations were underway.

“We dispatched a team from the district office to carry out investigations on the matter. I am expecting a report from them between today and tomorrow. However, preliminary results show the headmaster’s wife sent the boy away. We will put the member to his defence,” said Mr Shumba.

He added: “The headmaster was not there at the scene but was within the school premises. What exactly was he doing which was more important than the examinations? It is like you are playing football and as you are attacking, your number nine chooses to go away.” When told the headmaster, Mr Abel Zebron Rubende, had later offered to pay for Belvin’s school fees next year if he repeats, Mr Shumba said that did not exonerate him.

“That does not remove commission of the offence. That is mitigation,” he said. It has since emerged that Mrs Rubende had a misunderstanding with Belvin a week before the examinations and had vowed to fix him. It is alleged she told the pupil; “Tinodakuona kuti uchandonyorera kupi. (We shall see where you are going to sit for your exams).”

Mrs Rubende teaches Shona at Mweyamutsvene Mission. Now the headmaster Mr Rubende is making frantic efforts to douse a fire started by his wife. Yesterday Mr Rubende met Mrs Chibi and begged for forgiveness. Mr Rubende officially offered to pay for Belvin’s boarding fees, uniforms and to meet all other education expenses if the pupil agrees to repeat next year.

The Herald is in possession of the agreement. It reads: “The school shall assist Belvin Chibi Form Four in 2016 in the following — pay for his examination fees for five subjects, pay for his tuition fees for three terms and pay for his boarding fees if enrolled with the school.” The agreement was signed by Mrs Chibi, Mr Rubende, deputy headmaster Mr G. Chakwakwama and Belvin.

Belvin was a day scholar before the incident. The Herald also caught up with Mrs Chibi. “I am a vendor based in South Africa. I travelled all the way from South Africa to get an explanation from the headmaster on what happened. He apologised. Mr Rubende offered to pay boarding fees for Belvin and to buy uniforms and meet all the other costs to do with his education,” said Mrs Chibi.

When asked why she failed to buy her son school shoes, Mrs Chibi said: “I am struggling. I am a vendor in South Africa where I sell reed mats. Things are not well at the moment as the Rand is depreciating in value.” Mrs Chibi said besides her son, she takes care of five other orphans who stay with her mother, Mrs Musagomba.

When The Herald visited Mweyamutsvene Mission, Belvin’s school mates narrated how Mrs Rubende had a misunderstanding with the boy a week before the examinations.

“A week before the examinations, Mrs Rubende kicked Belvin out of class saying he was improperly dressed. It was on a Wednesday and we were wearing our sports attire. Almost everyone in class was wearing sports attire but she singled out Belvin,” said a pupil.

The allegations were confirmed by other pupils. “Although it was a sports day, Mrs Rubende called for an extra Shona lesson (revision). We were wearing sports attire but she chucked Belvin out of the lesson saying he was improperly dressed. She said tinoda kuona kuti uchanyorerepi,” claimed another pupil.

Belvin’s grandmother, Mrs Musagomba, said the incident left her devastated.

“Belvin does not have school shoes. The pair that I bought him midyear for $15 is now beyond repair. I failed to buy him another pair of school shoes because I do not have money. I survive on selling firewood. As I speak to you my other grandchild is supposed to be in Form One but he is not going to school because I do not have money for fees. Their parents are late,” said Mrs Musagomba.

She showed The Herald a pair of Belvin’s old school shoes. The shoes are damaged. “We tried to repair the shoes on several occasions but as you can see, they are beyond repair now,” added Mrs Musagomba. She said her grandchild was disciplined.

“I was never summoned for any disciplinary cases by the school since he was Form One and this incident pained and shocked me,” said Mrs Musagomba. She confirmed that officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education had visited them on Friday. “They also took photographs of Belvin’s damaged shoes,” said Mrs Musagomba.

A Good Samaritan, Mr Lucky Gashu, donated $50 towards the purchase of Belvin’s school shoes. The money was handed over to Belvin’s grandmother on Saturday. Efforts to get a comment from Mrs Rubende were fruitless.

However, Mr Rubende has denied that his wife chased away Belvin from the exam room because he had no shoes. The Herald