Mathew Masinge, H-Metro Reporter
High Court Judge Amie Tsanga has ordered the reopening of a Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Support Unit Independent College after it was closed down by Police Commissioner General-Godwin Matanga on January 2.
The closure of the institution was allegedly without notice from the police chief who based his actions on planning a formal regularisation of the school.
About 200 pupils whose guardians are junior officers were subjected to the unfamiliar decision despite the school being registered with the Primary and Secondary Education ministry.
In her judgement, the presiding judge Justice Amie Tsanga uplifted the directive from Commissioner General-Matanga by issuing an order allowing the over a decade old school to operate throughout the first term awaiting the regularisation process.
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“The suspension of the operation of ZRP Support Unit College be and is hereby uplifted forthwith.
“The school shall reopen for one calendar term being January to April 2020 which period shall serve as notice to all parents, pupils and school authorities to regularise the school’s shortcomings failure which it shall be closed at the expiry of this period,” ruled Justice Tsanga.
According to the court challenge filed by a number of affected junior officers, they were finding it difficult to find alternative schools for their children for reluctantly assured of places at the school.
“Whatever the reasons the first respondent (Matanga) had in mind to order the closure of the college, the decision to do so should have been communicated within a reasonable time to afford me (one of the parents) together with other parents enough time to run around and find alternative schools for our children.
“In the circumstances, it is inconceivable to believe that a notice of less than two weeks is reasonable in this case,” said one of the disgruntled officers.
– HMETRO
