Shona magistrate denies Mthwakazi Republic Party official bail

A Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) activist, Mkhululi Jele, was dragged to Plumtree magistrates courts for challenging the interrogation of students at Phakamani High School in Plumtree.


The students had clashed with their teacher over the controversial heritage studies curriculum, which they accused of misrepresenting language, culture and heritage issues.

Plumtree magistrate Mr Joshua Nembaware remanded Jele in custody to February 24.

Circumstances are that in the morning of 3 November 2025, Jele who was in the company of an unknown male adult arrived at Phakamani High School after they heard that there were some students who were being interviewed by the headmaster and police in connection with an audio message of learners protesting against a heritage studies lesson on different Shona types of marriages that went viral.

Jele (accused) and his accomplice then (male adult) intercepted the headmaster who was in the company of some learners on their way to his office and asked why they were conducting interviews with the learners without involvement or consultation with their parents. However, he was asked for privacy by one of the officers, which he complied.

Selestine Madziwa prosecuted