Takunda Maodza Harare Bureau
A FORM Four pupil at Mweyamutsvene Mission School was allegedly barred from sitting for his English and Commerce Zimsec examinations because he did not have shoes, it has emerged.
Mweyamutsvene Mission is a Catholic Church school in Bocha, Manicaland Province. Reliable sources told our Harare Bureau that Belvin Chibi, candidate number 3081, lives with his grandmother.
Sources said the grandmother could not afford a pair of shoes because of poverty. Bocha is a poverty stricken area.
Chibi was reportedly kicked out of the examination room by the headmaster’s wife — Nyasha Rubende — who teaches at the same school with her husband, Abel Zebron Rubende.
“The boy stays with his grandmother and had footed all the way to school to write the national examinations. He was barred from sitting for the examinations by Rubende because he had no shoes,” said the source.
Mweyamutsvene school head Rubende yesterday confirmed Chibi did not write the examinations but gave a different narrative. He sounded in defence of his wife.
“That’s not true. People are exaggerating the matter and are probably pushing a hidden agenda. The pupil went into a wrong examination room and chose to go home when the anomaly was noted instead of going to the right examination room,” he claimed. He confirmed the pupil had initially been ordered “to dress properly” as he was barefoot.
Rubende alleged the pupil willingly chose to come for the examinations barefooted. He said he has since appointed a team led by the deputy headmaster, only identified as Chakwakwama to investigate the matter. Rubende told our Harare Bureau to phone him after two hours for a fuller briefing on the matter.
When contacted later on he said: “I’m proceeding with the investigations. I’m also compiling a report on the case for submission to the district education office.”
Efforts to get a comment from Rubende’s wife were fruitless as her mobile phone was unreachable.
A resident priest at the school, only identified as Priest Emeka of Nigerian origin refused to comment on the matter referring all questions to the deputy headmaster.
“I will direct you to the deputy headmaster. They are the people who deal with student affairs. The headmaster is the right person to talk to you,” said the priest.