Odzi Primary School’s annual general meeting failed to take off last Friday after parents protested against Zanu PF Manicaland chairman Mike Madiro’s alleged imposition of chairperson for the school development association (SDA).
BY KENNETH NYANGANI
The imposition allegations come as jostling for the Mutare North constituency seat reaches fever pitch.
Angry parents told NewsDay that Madiro tried to impose Gift Makaza, a known Zanu PF activist, without success.
Madiro was represented by Zanu PF vice-chairperson Dorothy Mabika.
Riot police had to be called in from Mutare after Odzi Police Station failed to provide enough reinforcement to stop the irate parents.
When this publication visited the school, armed police tried in vain to stop parents who were shouting unprintable words against Madiro, who was not present at the meeting.
“We don’t want a chairman who is imposed on us. We don’t want Gift Makaza because we know that he is used by Zanu PF chairman Mike Madiro. We still want our chairman Fungai Musengere,” a parent, who refused to be named, said.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
The parents accused ward 31 councillor Pedzisai Gojo of inviting Zanu PF leadership to the school meeting, with some clad in their party’s regalia.
Gojo, who is reportedly Madiro’s blue-eyed boy in the constituency, justified his decision to call the party’s provincial leadership to the meeting.
“I am told that the current school development association chairman Fungai Musengere also wants to be chairman of the ward. We failed to hold the elections because there is politics at this school. The reason why we engaged the leadership is because I wanted them to see that there is politics at this school,” he said.
Madiro refuted the allegations that he had imposed the chairperson.
“It’s not worth commenting. How can I be at two places? It’s just name dropping. How can I impose someone and why should I do that? This does not make sense,” he said
Madiro is reportedly vying for the Mutare North constituency seat against the incumbent legislator Batsirai Pemhenayi.
