Rutendo Chirume
A total of 23 Gokomere Secondary School learners are set to appear at Masvingo Magistrate Court on February 7 for allegedly inciting public violence at the school last year.
The learners are charged of acting unlawfully by engaging in public violence at the school premises and vandalizing property worth USD$1500 which is yet to be replaced.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) advocate Martin Mureri confirmed that he was approached by one or two parents to represent their kids.
The charge sheet states that on November 7, 2021 at Gokomere Mission School, the accused acted forcibly and to a serious extend disturbed the peace and order of the public by being rowdy and violent.
They reportedly started throwing stones at the dining hall thereby breaking its window panes as well as windscreen and side windows of a motor vehicle which belonged to the school.
The accused persons were identified by school authorities including the headmaster which led to their arrest.
The learners majority of whom were doing Ordinary levels (form 3) were once detained at Masvingo Central Police station, with the arresting police details reportedly accused of exposing them to brutal treatment leading to their parents and guardians approaching Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights seeking redress.
