Newsday
By Moses Matenga
16 May 2011
The Apex council has urged leaders of political parties to desist from using school premises as campaign grounds as that compromised the country’s education system and instilled fear among teachers and pupils.
Tendai Chikowore, Apex council chairperson said her organisation was disturbed by reports that political rallies were being held at schools.
Her remarks follow hard on the heels of reports that several schools in Headlands, Manicaland province were closed last Friday as pupils and teachers were ordered to attend a Zanu PF rally held at Mount Carmel School.
Chikowore said it was unfair for politicians to use schools for campaigning saying parties should not take politics to the classrooms.
“We don’t want school premises to be used as political grounds. If at all campaigns are being done, let school premises be out of bounds,†she said.
Education, Sport, Arts and Culture minister David Coltart was not immediately available for comment but is on record blasting Zanu PF officials for using school premises as rally venues.
Zanu PF has taken its anti-sanctions campaign to schools amid reports that school teachers and children were being forced to sign the petition.
There are also reports that war veterans in Chikomba District are mulling teaching History lessons about the liberation war to pupils in the area.
In the run-up to the bloody June 2008 presidential election run-off, Zanu PF militias allegedly used schools as “campaign bases†where opposition supporters were reportedly tortured and forced to join the former ruling party.
During last week’s rally, pupils who spoke to NewsDay said they were made to rehearse Zanu PF songs and poems in praise of President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF.
They said lessons were disrupted from Tuesday as teachers abandoned classes to prepare for the anti-sanctions rally.
Vice-President John Nkomo who was expected to officially address the rally failed to make it to Headlands.
Zanu PF secretary for the commissariat, Webster Shamu, stood in his stead.