The situation at Siambe Primary School outside Sibasa was tense last Friday, when angry parents called for the sacking of a principal, accused of having stolen food meant for poor pupils.

The ugly situation developed during a year-end function held at the school premises. The event, which was supposed to be a joyful year-end function for the principal, Ms Doreen Shimange, her staff and their guests turned nasty when the principal of the school was shamed in front of the community, teachers and pupils.

The principal stands accused of being behind the mysterious disappearance of foodstuffs meant for poor pupils at the school. It is alleged the principal had, on 20 November, with the assistance of a cook and a teacher, loaded a bag full of groceries from the school in her car. Allegations are that one of those who assisted her blew the whistle on her and the staff at the school knew about the incident.

Briefing the parents, Mr Emmanuel Mushome, SGB chairperson, said that he received a call from the circuit manager who informed him of the allegations of theft. "I did not know anything about it. What I did was to call a meeting where we discussed the issue with the circuit. We also called in witnesses who were present when the food was taken. The principal, however, said she did not know anything about the theft," said Mushome.

He added that committee members had already taken a decision on the matter and the fate of the principal but did not want to impose it on the people. "We felt we should not take a decision on your behalf. That is the reason we called you here to deal with this matter collectively,” he said.

Witnesses to the alleged theft were called during the meeting and they gave evidence to the effect that they helped the principal in loading the foodstuffs in her car. One witness, a cook at the school, said she was asked by the principal to load a bag full of foodstuffs. “I did not question as to where the food was going. As an ordinary employee, I have no rights to question the principal; I just did as ordered," she said.

She said that after being confronted by other staff members, she went back to the principal and told her that what she had done would land her in trouble and that she should return the stuff, which she did not do. A teacher also corroborated the evidence, saying that she was also requested to help load the bag in the principal's car.

The principal was also afforded the opportunity to address the community, but she pleaded innocent and said that there were people at the school who were just against her and who would do anything to see that she vacate her seat as the principal of the school. “I know nothing about this. I am being targeted because of my stance against those who are abusing the school feeding scheme food. I rebuked those who have testified against me as they are stealing, and this is how they get to me by starting a smear campaign against me,” she said.

The principal could not even finish giving her own side of the story as community members began jeering at her. The community members then unanimously agreed that the principal was no longer wanted at the school, with immediate effect. She was also threatened not to set foot at the school in the new year.

An emotional Shimange left the meeting in a huff and when this paper wanted comment from her, she slammed her office door and packed her stuff in a hurry.  After some minutes, she had packed her own things, but this time she gave the reporter her phone number.

In an interview, Mushome confirmed that tensions have been simmering for some time between the school governing body and the principal. He said the principal had told the school governing body that she was no longer interested in serving the school. He also mentioned that door frames and bricks had gone missing from the school, but this was not reported to the police.

“We have many issues here and are very suspicious about the rampant theft at our school. Why are the thefts not reported to the police? We are also worried that we are working with someone who is no longer interested in working with us. We have lost interest in her and we feel that it would be better that she left us in peace,” added Mushome.