Own Correspondent|Top wings of the police force and state security were Monday called in to deal with a demonstration by students at Bulawayo’s Njube High School in protest over a recent steep increase in tuition fees.

The children took down the school’s national flag and also brandished President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s portrait as they marched into the busy Luveve Road in Bulawayo’s High Density Suburbs.

The demonstration was also a show of disgruntlement by the young learners over the shortage of textbooks, learning material and continued absence of teachers at the government owned institution.

The students, who were singing and dancing to songs that claimed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa was failing them, marched for hundreds of metres from the school yard to a petrol station along the busy Luveve highway where the march was dispersed by the headmaster under instruction of anti riot police and state security agents.

The students retreated to the school yard where they were screened by the police and Ministry of Education officials.

Those who were implicated as ring leaders of the protest were asked to write on pieces of paper why they took part in the protest.

The students were also asked to state the names of persons who pulled down the national flag and the President’s portrait during the demonstrations.

According to a police Memorandum from the Officer In Charge Njube Police to the Officer Commanding Bulawayo, the students who took part in the demonstration volunteered to give statements on the demonstration.

“ZRP Njube attended the scene and called the pupils to assembly. The children who had participated in the demonstration voluntarily came into the open about their participation,” said the police.

“They were invited to write reasons for their participation in the demonstration which are—

• The fees have been hiked from $92-00 to $440-00.
• The teachers are earning low salaries.
• Teachers not attending lessons.
• Beneficiaries of the BEAM programme being made to pay half of the fees and
• The general high cost of living.

“Scene was also attended by the Officer Commanding Bulawayo West District; Chief Superintendent Bizeki, members from the Presidents Office, Military Intelligence, Prison Intelligence and different media houses,” wrote the police proving how intimidating the state security delegation was to the children.

“The reason why we took part in the walk is that we want our education. We do not have enough textbooks to learn. The fees have gone high and our parents cannot afford the fees,” read one statement from a student.

“Save our soul,” another student wrote in her statement.

“This is for every Zimbabwean children. UNICEF where are you? We have suffered a lot. All we need is if you help Ubuntu,” another student wrote on her statement.

“Most of our parents were struggling to pay the old fees, let alone the new fees. While our parents continue to pay those huge fees, we are not provided with any textbooks and other learning materials,” said an A’ level student who refused to be named for fear of victimisation.

The Acting District Schools Inspector for Khumalo, Inspector Zanele Muyambo addressed the students and assured them they will not be victimised.

She also assured the students that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education was going to look into some of their grievances.

Additional Reporting: all Africa.com/News Agents