News Day
By News Day Reporter
28 June 2013
IN yesterday’s issue of NewsDay we carried a disturbing report to the effect that Zanu PF conducted most of its just-ended primary elections inside school grounds in defiance of a standing government directive that school premises should not be used as venues for political activities.
NewsDay crews sent to several provinces throughout the country on Tuesday observed that most schools were teeming with party supporters going about their internal elections undeterred. It’s a given that authorities at those schools did not voluntarily offer their premises for such an exercise, but were cowed into submission out of fear of victimisation. Zanu PF should come out clean over the matter and explain why it has consistently defied the order with impunity. Since his appointment as Education minister four years ago, David Coltart has not hesitated to caution, but it seems his wise counsel has fallen on deaf ears.
Is it another case of open defiance fuelled by a dysfunctional government or lack of concern for the all-important education sector and future generations?
It goes without saying that educational institutions are sacrosanct and as long as the country wishes to retain its status of having the highest literacy rate in the region, school grounds should be regarded as out-of-bounds for politicians and their disruptive activities.
At the height of the bloody June 2008 presidential run-off polls, war veterans and Zanu PF youths literally camped at rural schools where they allegedly set up torture bases after school authorities were cowed into submission. Those who dared to resist the move risked being labelled politically incorrect which often resulted in them being persecuted or forced to vacate their work stations.
With the advent of the coalition government, one would have thought that sad chapter of our history was closed and a new dispensation of constitutionalism and rule of law was upon us.
But Tuesday and Wednesday’s events came as a sad reminder that Zanu PF in particular has not fully embraced the rule of law.
Contacted for comment, Coltart was again at pains to reiterate government policy as regards the matter.
“The policy remains unchanged, so no party should be holding their elections in schools,†Coltart said. “I have received several reports and complaints today about schools being used countrywide to conduct Zanu PF primary elections. I have stated, as policy, on numerous occasions in the last four years that schools should not be used under any circumstances for partisan political activity. I have stated the various sound educational reasons for that policy which include the fact that children and teachers need a safe and peaceful environment to study in.
“This is a policy which has been in place for many years, at least in theory, and which I have simply reinforced.
“It goes without saying that the use of schools has been done without my permission and in flagrant breach of that policy.
Let’s safeguard our future generations by providing them with an undefiled learning environment.