The Anglican Diocese of Manicaland has announced its intention to seek the removal of St Faith’s High School head, Mr. Arnold Makamba, in the wake of recent disturbances surrounding the return of Lower Sixth students to the school.
The turmoil, culminating in a physical altercation between parents and a priest, arose from a variety of longstanding issues between the parents and the diocese. Key among these concerns is the contentious matter of the US$600 mission fund payment. While a legal challenge against the mission fund is currently pending in the High Court, the diocese has stood firm on its stance that parents should fulfill this financial obligation. However, both the School Development Committee (SDC) and the school head have voiced their opposition to this requirement.
Bishop Eric Ruwona of the Manicaland Diocese cited the continued disruptions at the school as stemming from the head’s failure to uphold the church’s values and regulations for its educational institutions. He emphasized Mr. Makamba’s apparent resistance to the church’s directives as indicative of his unsuitability to oversee the school on behalf of the church. The bishop underscored the importance of mutual respect and alignment with the church’s ethos in leading one of its educational establishments.
Bishop Ruwona asserted that in a scenario where the head is at odds with the school’s operational principles, it would be prudent for the individual to seek employment elsewhere and allow the church to manage its schools in accordance with its established guidelines. He implied that recommendations would be pursued for Mr. Makamba’s removal from his position.
The ongoing disputes were further exacerbated by confrontations allegedly orchestrated by Mr. Makamba, as claimed by the bishop. He alleged that hired individuals, not actual parents, incited the disturbances under the head’s direction. The bishop maintained that such actions were an attempt to undermine the church’s authority and integrity, resulting in the subsequent arrests of individuals involved in the skirmishes.
Regarding the mission fund collection, Bishop Ruwona clarified that this practice was not unique to schools in Manicaland but standard across all 54 Anglican schools. These funds, he explained, were essential for infrastructural development, citing specific projects initiated at various schools under the diocese’s jurisdiction.
Parental discontent with the mission fund and other administrative decisions have fuelled broader tensions, particularly in the context of the diocese’s attempts to privatize select high-performing schools. The prospect of privatization, including at St Faith’s High School, has sparked resistance from the local community in Rusape, who fear adverse repercussions on their children’s education and community welfare.
Moreover, unresolved issues arising from overcrowding and enrollment irregularities have added further complexity to the ongoing rift between the parents, the church, and the school administration. Amidst these multifaceted challenges, the diocese remains committed to upholding its regulatory framework and educational objectives, despite the discord surrounding St Faith’s High School.
