Witnesses give conflicting statements in Mthwakazi activist case

A Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) activist has been remanded in custody to March 3 on charges of disorderly conduct following an incident at Phakamani High School.

Mkhululi Jele, the national youth chairperson of the MRP, was arrested after confronting school authorities over the presence of State security agents who were reportedly interviewing students at the school. The incident occurred after students at the school reportedly clashed with their teacher over alleged misrepresentations in the Heritage Studies curriculum during a lesson.

Jele, 34, appeared before Plumtree Magistrate Aelene Munamati and denied the disorderly conduct charge. He is being represented by Thato Mavula from Dube Legal Practice.

State witnesses in the case gave conflicting statements regarding the events. According to Mavula, Jele visited Phakamani High School on January 28 after receiving a call from Johan Lunga, a teacher involved in the controversy. Lunga had reportedly asked Jele to come to the school to discuss the situation. Jele allegedly questioned the school headmaster, Nkululeko Vundla, about allowing State security agents to interview students without the presence of their parents or guardians.

Lunga confirmed that he had requested Jele's presence at the school and explained that the security officers had interviewed students in his presence, recording their details but not harming any of them.

However, Vundla disputed Jele's version of events, claiming that Jele had arrived at the school uninvited and caused a scene. Vundla testified that Jele began shouting at him, questioning why students were being interviewed by security agents without their guardians. He stated that he had directed Jele to seek further information from the district education office.

James Moses, a police officer who had interviewed the students, also testified, stating that the police officers had gone to Phakamani High School under the instructions of their station commander.

The MRP recently raised concerns over the Heritage Studies curriculum, petitioning the government, the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC), and the international community. The party has called for the immediate removal of the Heritage Studies examination from current and future exam schedules, claiming that the curriculum is divisive.

Jele's case has drawn attention from political observers and activists, with many viewing the incident as part of ongoing tensions surrounding the country's education system and the role of State security in schools. The case will resume on March 3, where further developments are expected.