Tensions reached a boiling point yesterday as police officers in Rusape allegedly employed aggressive tactics, setting dogs on protesting students at St Faith’s Mission. A video clip capturing the disturbing incident swiftly went viral on various social media platforms, sparking outrage and calls for justice.
The demonstration was organized by students who vehemently opposed the Anglican Church-run institution’s recent decision to impose a hefty US$600 mission fund on each student, starting this academic term. Faced with financial burdens and limited resources, the students rallied against what they perceived as an unjust and burdensome fee.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that they are now investigating the allegations. In a statement, the ZRP highlighted the seriousness of the situation: “The ZRP has taken note of a viral social media clip on alleged St Faith High School students and ZRP clashes and use of police dogs during a purported pupils’ demonstration. Full details on the incident will be availed once the Officer Commanding Police Manicaland Province conducts full inquiry and brief the Commissioner-General of Police on what actually transpired.”
The protest began peacefully as the students marched to the district offices of the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education in Rusape town. Their aim was to register their deep dissatisfaction with the imposed mission fund. However, tensions escalated when police arrived at the scene and unleashed dogs on the demonstrators, as seen in the widely shared video.
Following the incident, the students were eventually transported back to the school premises via the institution’s bus. Nevertheless, unrest has been brewing at St Faith’s Mission since the beginning of the term, as parents engaged in heated clashes with church authorities over the contentious fee.
Adding fuel to the fire, the church recently issued a stern warning, threatening to expel the school’s headmaster, Arnold Makamba, for allegedly siding with the parents’ cause. This development has further intensified the already strained relationship between the parents, students, and the Anglican Church.
