Justice at last for barefoot pupil . . . head demoted, transferred FLASHBACK . . . Herald Assistant News Editor Takunda Maodza (right) hands over cash and a pair of shoes to Belvin Chibi (centre) in the presence of his grandmother, Mrs Edna Musagomba , soon after he was prevented from writing his O-Level exams last year
FLASHBACK . . . Herald Assistant News Editor Takunda Maodza (right) hands over cash and a pair of shoes to Belvin Chibi (centre) in the presence of his grandmother, Mrs Edna Musagomba , soon after he was prevented from writing his O-Level exams last year

FLASHBACK . . . Herald Assistant News Editor Takunda Maodza (right) hands over cash and a pair of shoes to Belvin Chibi (centre) in the presence of his grandmother, Mrs Edna Musagomba , soon after he was prevented from writing his O-Level exams last year

Takunda Maodza Assistant News Editor
MWEYAMUTSVENE School head Mr Abel Rubende and his wife Nyasha Rubende have been demoted and transferred from the Catholic-run institution after authorities found them guilty of barring a barefooted Form Four orphan from writing national examinations last October.

This was after Belvin Chibi’s grandmother failed to buy him school shoes because she did not have money.

The Herald is reliably informed that the deputy headmaster, Mr Gwinyai Chakwakwama, was also demoted for complicity in the act.

The decision by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education follows wide coverage of the event by The Herald when it happened last year after Mrs Rubende abused her position as the school head’s wife and barred Belvin from sitting for his Zimsec examinations.

The incident sparked outrage from society.

“Officials from the Catholic Church Manicaland Diocese visited the school on Tuesday last week and convened a meeting of all staff members including those from ancillary. They announced that Belvin’s case had led to the transfer of Mr Rubende, his wife and the demotion of the deputy head to an ordinary teacher,” said a source at the school.

Mr Rubende has reportedly been transferred to St Joseph’s School in the same province.

It was still unclear where Mrs Rubende was redeployed, with sources saying she was still to find a school.

“Mr Rubende has been moved to St Joseph’s where he will teach Geography. His wife is running around as she is yet to get a place at other schools to teach,” added the source. “The deputy head remains but has been demoted and is now an ordinary teacher.”

The school awaits a new head.

The new head was expected to start work yesterday.

Mr Rubende is still at the school for a handover takeover.

He refused to talk to The Herald when contacted for a comment yesterday.

“I have nothing to say to you,” he said before switching off his mobile phone.

Manicaland Provincial Education Director Mr Edward Shumba could neither confirm nor deny the development yesterday.

“That issue now rests with the permanent secretary. It is no longer mine to comment on,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from the ministry were fruitless.

Belvin is now based in Harare attending school in Mt Pleasant courtesy of relatives and the Social Welfare Department.

He can now even afford to be on social media platform, WhatsApp.

After The Herald published Belvin’s story on October 29 last year, Government dispatched a team of investigators to Mweyamutsvene Mission.

Mr Rubende, his wife and the deputy headmaster were dragged before a hearing.

Mr Rubende had offered to pay for Belvin’s school fees if he repeated his Form Four but later reneged on his promise leaving the boy in a quandary.

Government investigations found that the trio had a case to answer.

Mr Chikwakwama was accused of having heard the headmaster’s wife telling the child that he was not going to write the examination but did nothing about it.

Chibi is an orphan who lived with his 65-year-old grandmother, Mrs Edna Musagomba.

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