DRAMA continues to unfold at St Faith Mission School in Rusape following a demonstration by students yesterday in which one student ended up being bitten by a police dog.
This follows a stand-off between the church, school authorities and parents over the paymenrt of a US$600 mission fund at the Anglican Church school.Amnesty International Zimbabwe has condemned Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers’ conduct during a demonstration by St Faith High School learners on Wednesday, 14 February.
At least 800 learners from St Faith’s Mission School marched for close to 13km to the Rusape Education District Office demonstrating against their school’s responsible authority the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland.
One of the police officers who was deployed to control the situation then unleashed a dog on the learners, sending the children scampering for safety.
In a post on X, Amnesty International Zimbabwe highlighted that peaceful protest is a human right and urged authorities to respect, facilitate and protect this right. It said:
We strongly condemn [Zimbabwe Republic Police] conduct at St Faith High in Rusape today, where a police officer set a dog on learners who were protesting against a US$600 fee hike. Peaceful protest is a human right. Authorities must respect, facilitate and protect this right.The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) says it will conduct a full inquiry into allegations that police officers unleashed dogs on learners from St Faith High School in Manicaland during a demonstration on Valentine’s Day.
