By Beatific Gumbwanda
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers in Hippo Valley recently barred Chiredzi Central Member of Parliament and a local Councillor and parents from holding a school development meeting meant to mobilise resources to buy furniture for a new secondary school set to open in January 2026.
The incident occurred recently at the newly established Gozonya Secondary School, where police personnel dispersed parents and community leaders who were meeting to mobilise funds to furnish classrooms for approximately 160 students.
The police said the locals needed clearance first to have the crucial meeting.
Chiredzi Central MP Ropafadzo Makumire, and Ward 31 Zanu PF Councillor, Golden Bere, were among those stopped by the Police from holding the crucial meeting.
Local children are currently travelling 30-kilometre daily walk to the nearest public school, Mleme Secondary School and the establishment of the new school is set to relieve most learners
The construction of Gozonya has been a long-term community goal, starting with the construction of a single block in 2014. This year, the project gained significant momentum, with the completion of a second block through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in a race against time to open the school’s doors next year.
Addressing the frustrated parents a few meters from the school premises Bere stressed the non-political, developmental nature of the gathering.
”We are very unfortunate of what happened today. This school is not for anyone, but the community at large.
“The message was very clear, this meeting was developmental as we are anticipating to open the school in January 2026. We will do what the police have requested.” Said Bere.
On his part Makumire thanked the parents for attending the crucial meeting though it was disturbed.
”The issue we wanted to gather here for was purely for the development of this school, but to my surprise when I arrived, I saw police officers crowded in the surrounding bush,”
“We had even engaged leadership from both political parties to gather parents so we could finalise the opening of this school, because nobody seems to care that children are walking long distances.”
Following the intervention, Makumire confirmed they were going comply with the police’s instruction to submit a formal application, hoping to reschedule the critical fundraising.
