News / Education
Headmaster tortures 94 students for not paying fees - ZIMRIGHTS
04 Aug 2015 at 08:58hrs | Views
A total of 94 students at Glen View 1 High School in Harare school were reportedly tortured for failing to pay fees, Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has claimed.
According to parents, headmaster Alois Maronga assaulted 94 children at the school accusing them of failing to pay fees on time.
In a statement, ZimRights described Maronga's actions as tantamount to torture saying it was "a gross violation of children's human rights".
"The contract of tuition fees is between the parent and the school; hence the pupils are not affected, or bound by it, since they are legal minors.
"The government must, therefore, stop the victimisation of schoolchildren over tuition. ZimRights reminds school officials that corporal punishment is now closely regulated in Zimbabwe."
The rights group said the treatment of the schoolchildren amounted to torture under international statutes.
"The assault, which qualifies to be torture by the United Nations (UN) definition, was a gross violation of children's human rights. If anything, the new Constitution of Zimbabwe's section 81 says every boy or girl below the age of 18 years has the right to education," ZimRights said.
"The UN defines the act of torture in the Article 1 (1) of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which however Zimbabwe is not a signatory to. Government must ratify the treaty and craft laws that outlaw torture."
According to parents, headmaster Alois Maronga assaulted 94 children at the school accusing them of failing to pay fees on time.
In a statement, ZimRights described Maronga's actions as tantamount to torture saying it was "a gross violation of children's human rights".
"The contract of tuition fees is between the parent and the school; hence the pupils are not affected, or bound by it, since they are legal minors.
The rights group said the treatment of the schoolchildren amounted to torture under international statutes.
"The assault, which qualifies to be torture by the United Nations (UN) definition, was a gross violation of children's human rights. If anything, the new Constitution of Zimbabwe's section 81 says every boy or girl below the age of 18 years has the right to education," ZimRights said.
"The UN defines the act of torture in the Article 1 (1) of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, which however Zimbabwe is not a signatory to. Government must ratify the treaty and craft laws that outlaw torture."
Source - NewsDay
