Moffat Mungazi
Liberty Dube
Post Correspondent
PANIC has gripped parents and guardians of learners attending school at Knowstics Academy, a private learning institution in Mutasa District, after it was placed under corporate rescue late last year.
From 2023, the once high-flying institution was hit by an avalanche of legal suits from disgruntled staffers and service providers.
In that year, the non-payment of staff members spilled to the National Employment Council for Welfare and Educational Institutions (NEC). This resulted in a massive exodus of disgruntled teachers who were owed various amounts in outstanding salaries.
During the same year (2023), Knowstics Academy was in the eye of a legal storm after being evicted by Manicaland Development Association (MDA) at their Bonda premises over non-payment of rentals.
The academy’s administrators responded to the eviction by demolishing property worth thousands of dollars at MDA’s Herbert Chitepo Farm in Bonda.
With the use of an excavator, and allegedly working on orders from the school co-directors, Mr William Mukuwapasi and Mrs Edith Mukuwapasi, the hired hands vandalised buildings.
The buildings that once stood proudly — from dormitories to classrooms, staff houses and dining rooms — were all destroyed.
The premises had a sub-station that the tenants had reportedly built, but it was uprooted, along with the electricity poles.
This prompted MDA to approach Mutare High Court for a redress as destroying the property was against the two parties’ lease agreement.
Willedit Investments Pvt Ltd, trading as Knowstics Academy, entered into a written lease agreement with MDA in 2008 where it was agreed that the latter would occupy and use Herbert Chitepo Farm as a school.
It was also agreed that upon vacation, all new buildings would automatically become MDA’s property.
When Knowstics moved onto the property in February 2009, there was a 27-roomed dormitory complex, six staff houses, an administration block, metal and dress-making blocks, a warehouse and beerhall buildings.
Knowstics went ahead and built a dining room, classroom blocks, hostels, staff quarters and a crèche.
Following the fall-out, Knowstics destroyed most of the new buildings they built and removed roofs from the old buildings.
They also destroyed some of the buildings they had renovated.
The lease agreement, stipulated that: “All newly constructed buildings and other facilities will be at lessee’s cost and will become MDA property on termination of agreement.”
In its ruling, Mutare High Court issued an order that barred Knowstics Group of Schools from further demolishing buildings and structures belonging to their former landlord at the farm where the academy’s girls high school operated from.
Electricity supply was once cut late last year over non-payment, but has since been restored.
Placing the institution under corporate rescue is meant to restructure and revitalise its operations.
This legal process, carried out under the Insolvency Act, aims to resuscitate the institution, which was once a bastion of learning and restore its reputation and former excellence.
The school’s corporate rescue practitioner, Mr Bhudhama Chikamhi told The Manica Post that the objective is to implement a moratorium, which will suspend all writs of execution and court processes, providing the institution with an opportunity to recover and regain its former vitality.
As part of the corporate rescue process, Mr Chikamhi will assume control, replacing the school’s governing body.
In a circular issued late last year, Mr Chikamhi informed parents, guardians, and stakeholders that the measures being implemented will help Knowstics Academy to reclaim its status as a flagship of the country’s education sector.
“This is a legal process carried out under the Insolvency Act. Although it will not be the same environment, we have implemented a lot of initiatives aimed at resuscitating the institution which used to be a bastion of learning.
‘‘This is a service industry; you excel by making sure that the staff is well taken care of, which will be our own focus. We are in the process of enhancing the staff — which comprises teaching and non-teaching staff, an initiative aimed at making sure that our students have the right people to take care of them.
“There are changes that have already been communicated to stakeholders such as the re-introducing of commercial and arts subjects at Lower and Upper Six levels which had been scrapped by the previous governing body.
‘‘I also made the decision to appoint the new principal, Mr Nicholas Mapolisa, a seasoned educationist with extensive experience in the field. I am confident that under his leadership, he will, not only drive the new initiatives, but also inspire the entire institution to embrace change.
“With his expertise and dedication, I believe he will guide the institution towards a brighter future and elevate it to greater heights, ensuring its long-term success and sustainability.
‘‘He is quite experienced and he has made a significant turnaround at various learning institutions across the country. I also managed to appoint a three-member technical committee, which will be led by a shrewd fundi, Dr Fredrick Hamadziripi to ensure that the institution gets back on its feet,” said Mr Chikamhi.
He said the existing setups and structures at the institution will remain unchanged, emphasising that everything is now under corporate rescue.
He also stated that the school’s electricity supply had been restored.
Acting Manicaland Provincial Education Director (PED), Mr Richard Gabaza could not be reached for a comment as his phone was unavailable.
