HA-MUTSHA - Tension is mounting at Tshikurukuru Primary School at Ha-Mutsha in Vuwani, as the struggle between the former acting principal and the appointed principal continues.

The problem started last December, when the circuit manager introduced Mr Joseph Singo as the new principal to the SGB, staff members and Ms Sarah Mugivhi, who had been acting in the position for the past four years. During that meeting, Mr Singo, who had been appointed by the department, was welcomed by the SGB members and staff.

According to reports, Mugivhi said that Singo should go back to Tshidumbi Primary, where he had been working, as he would never work at the school.

Mugivhi, who came second in the results of the interviews held at Tshisimani College last year, said that the position belonged to her. The situation became tense during the school's re-opening on January 14, this year.

There was no schooling at Tshikurukuru from the 14th to the 17th as Mugivhi kept the school keys with her.

She only handed the keys to the Sheriff on the 18th of January after the case had been reported to the police.

After realising that the struggle between the two was still continuing, both Singo and the SGB wrote letters to the department on three different occasions, proposing that Mugivhi should be transferred "because she is against the development of the school."

SGB member Thifhelimbilu Mashau accused the department of not giving the matter the attention it deserves. He said they were concerned that the department had failed to respond to the matter after the three letters they had written.

Mashau said they were also concerned that the new principal, Mr Singo, had not received his salary since being appointed as the new principal of the school.

The regional director of education, Mr Masotsha Mathivha, said the department only became aware of the matter this week after Phalaphala FM inquired about the situation.

When approached for comment, Mugivhi referred the issue to a certain Mr Mudumela from Sadtu's office, who was said to be in a meeting at the time of going to press.