Students accused of vandalising school

Angry students on Monday allegedly vandalised Sopa Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Mchinji.

MchinjiPolice Station spokesperson Kaitano Lubrino said in an interview that theschool’s head teacher Jonathan Magombo told police that when the students werewriting end of term examinations, one Form Two student,  allegedly wanted to leave the examinationhall with an examination paper.

He quoted the head teacher as having said the student, whom police refused to identify, started tussling with the invigilator, Steven Mataya Mwale, who allegedly whipped him with a stick for refusing to surrender the paper.

The police spokesperson said the student reportedly sustained a deep cut, a development which apparently incited the other students to riot.

“The matter was reported to Mikundi Police Unit where the student was issued a referral document for medical examination and treatment,” he said.

Lubrino said at around 7pm on the same day, the students mobilised themselves and allegedly started looting and damaging school property, including the teachers’ houses.

“The properties affected include, farm produce, animals, a vehicle, iron sheets, window panes, glasses and teachers’ household properties. The value of both stolen and vandalised properties is yet to be quantified,” he said.

Currently, police have arrested two suspects who allegedly led the riot.

Police records indicate that this is a fourth school in a month to be vandalised by irate students after Kabzala, Mchinji Mission and Waliranji CDSSs.n