Mthwakazi party in fact finding mission in Lupane

Mthwakazi Republic party on Thursday June 2 embarked in a fact finding mission in Lupane when it established that the biggest problem in the district was of access to education.

party spokesperson Mbonisi Gumbo said a party delegation comprising National executive members visited close to 20 schools in Lupane both Primary and Secondary.

"We have since established that the biggest problem in Lupane's Education system is  Simplicio Gwanoya the current Lupane District Education Oficer (DEO). All the confusion in Lupane Education is emanating from the DEO's office. We established that Mr Gwanoya is now a demi god in Lupane, he is untouchable and has the backing of the Minister of Education Dr Lazarus Dokora in their quest to fulfill their Satanic 1979 Grand Plan," he said.

"We met a number of SDC Chairpersons, teachers, two heads and parents from different schools. They all complained that they are not being treated well. The schools visited are; Masenyane Primary, Gumede Primary, Mlamuli Secondary, Ndlovu Primary, Jotsholo Secondary, Daluka Primary, Lupane Primary, Mabhikwa High, Zwangendaba High, Phumakanye Primary, Lupanda Secondary, Somgolo Primary, Mafa Primary, Sipopoma Primary, Lihlo Primary, Gandangula and Fatima High."

He said out of all the above mentioned schools only 4 had Ndebele teachers only, the rest are either led by Shona Heads or two thirds of School staff are Shona. Local Mthwakazi qualified teachers are either ignored/ not hired at all and those within are hardly promoted.

"According to Officials at the Mat North head office at Mhlahlandlela in Bulawayo and Ndebele heads and teachers we spoke to, Minister Dokora has reduced himself to be the Lupane DEO and Gwanoya a SDC Chairman because of their actions. The two are accused of interfering with work of SDCs and School heads especially locals, some school heads say they now take orders from their junior Shona teachers because Gwanoya doesn't speak to them directly but through junior teachers on the other hand Dokora deals with Gwanoya straight bypassing the Provincial office," he said.

"Gwanoya has made it a point that he only employees Shona speaking teachers both qualified and temporary teachers. He always makes sure that whenever locals apply he turns them down even when they would have been approved By school heads. School heads also said according to the procedure ,when a teacher is being transferred from one school to another or being hired a School head must append a signature but when the Shona teachers are coming or leaving School heads are not consulted."

Gumbo said Ndebele teachers complained that they are being denied their right to be transfered from rural schools even after they would have spent 10 or more years in Education, but those who are connected to Gwanoya come here only to gain experience after that they tranfer to the developed areas within Mthwakazi including Bulawayo.

"Meanwhile parents at Mlamuli Secondary School have resolved to withdraw their children from the school as from next week if Bonyongwe is still there. Today she ran away from the angry parents. Mthwakazi Republic party is very much worried by the behaviour of Minister Dokora and his DEO Gwanoya who are protecting Miss Bonyongwe from leaving the school despite the fact that she is not welcome in Lupane or Mthwakazi at large," Gumbo said.

 "The lady always boosts of being connected to the CIO and the government and no one can do anything to her. We want to put it categorically clear that as MRP we back the Lupane community in their defence of their community. We also support the Chief for high lighting the need for the establishment of a Matabeleland North Teachers Collage and also for pointing out that none Ndebele speaking teachers are not welcome in Mthwakazi."

Gumbo said as Mthwakazi Republic Party they call upon all Mthwakazi people to standup and be counted, and  all Mthwakazi communities must resist the implementation of the 1979 Satanic Grand Plan in their area.