Family feud threatens to shut Gweru school
A FAMILY-owned private school in Gweru, Lingfield Academy, is facing imminent collapse after parents threatened withdraw their kids over poor results and learning conditions, reportedly caused by intermittent fights and squabbles over the control of the school by close family members.
So nasty is the fight over the up-market school that the owners’ son, Mr Prince Mabandla, has since approached the courts in a desperate bid to elbow out his mother from the school, which is the sole family business.
Ironically, the school, which is being run at the family’s place of residence, was reportedly established by the parents, Mr Morton Mabandla and wife, Stella, who are the board of trustee’s chairperson and secretary respectively, with Prince and his two siblings completing the board of trustees.
The Herald is in possession of a court interdict application by Mr Prince Mabandla that seeks to bar his mother from accessing the school premises.
According to information gathered, Mr and Mrs Mabandla are based in the UK, while their children, including the estranged son, Prince, are living in the United States.
The family still uses the school premises situated along the Gweru-Mvuma Road as their local residence.
Sources close to the development told The Herald that Mrs Mabandla recently flew into the country and got the shock of her life when she was handed a court order barring her from accessing the property.
According to court papers, the school head, Mr Musa Chibi applied for a court interdict that seeks to bar Mrs Mabandla from entering the school premises on instruction from Prince.
“I am the headmaster of Lingfield Academy,” read part of the court application. “My duties among others involve administration and ensuring the smooth running of the affairs at Christian Academy.
“I am also mandated and authorised by the chairperson of the Mabandla Trust to depose of this affidavit and file this application on behalf of the applicant.
“The respondent is Stella Mabandla, a female adult residing at Mabandla Farm, 22 Lingfield Road Gweru and which is the same address as that of service.
“The board of trustees of Mabandla Trust is endowed with the responsibility of running and controlling all the affairs and properties of the trust. The board of trustees is headed by the chairperson, Mr Prince Mabandla, who is also the founder member and chief executive of Lingfield Christian Academy.
“Mr Prince Mabandla is currently based in the US . . . The trust owns and runs a school called Lingfield Christian Academy, situated at Mabandla Farm along Mvuma road at 22 Lingfield Road, Gweru.
“The academy comprise of a High School and a Primary School and an Affiliated University and all facilities which are legally registered. All the institutions are under the direct control of the chairperson, Mr Prince Mabandla from whom I derive authority and instructions to file this affidavit.” The affidavit, which the lawyers said was haphazardly done and contradicts itself as Prince desperately sought to evict his mother who is a member of the board of trustees, from the family business, is set to be heard on August 1.
It further states: “On the 9th of July 2018, the respondent made a dramatic return to Zimbabwe and is threatening to cause mayhem at the school.
She is threatening to remove the newly appointed staff. She is also threatening to resume control of the finances of the school.
“This application seeks to order in terms of the draft order barring the respondent from entering the school premises and interfering into the affairs of the institution.”