UNDERFIRE... Zanu-PF to be sued over 'illegal' schools closure

HARARE - OPPOSITION parties have threatened to sue the ruling party Zanu PF for illegitimately ordering Harare and Bulawayo schools to close a week earlier to pave way for its congress, which opens in the capital tomorrow.

FreeZim Congress party spokesperson, James Katso, yesterday said they had resolved to challenge the decision at the Constitutional Court to avoid a repeat of such incidents.

This follows a directive by the Primary and Secondary Education ministry ordering schools in the two cities to close earlier to pave way for the forthcoming Zanu PF congress in Harare and the Region Five Under-20 Youth Games in Bulawayo.

"We cannot have a decision to close schools done over a political party issue because functions by Zanu PF cannot take precedence over the education of children," Katso said.

MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu, said the move had exposed Zanu PF's selfishness.

"They do not care about the welfare of children and ordinary people because most of the schools affected belong to classes of students from a lower strata of society, while children of chéfs are not affected," he said.

"They (Zanu PF) do not care what happens to all the other people because of corrupt dictatorship.

"It is understandable to close schools for the Region 5 games because sport is important for the school curriculum and a reasonable government will promote sport" he said.

Co-spokesperson for the United Movement for Democratic Change Jacob Mafume said it was an alarming development, Zanu PF was running the education of children as guerrilla warfare.

"There is no basis of this illogical decision except to say it was made by the worst and clueless education minister who has failed to preside over examinations or to bring dignity to the education system."