Bulawayo residents outraged as school children swap vows and kiss in public
RESIDENTS in Bulawayo are seething with anger after a shocking video emerged showing two Emganwini High School pupils staging a bizarre “marriage ceremony” in full view of classmates and stunned onlookers.
The disturbing clip, which has since gone viral on WhatsApp, shows a Form Four boy and a Form Two girl exchanging vows like newlyweds before sealing their “union” with a passionate kiss. Dozens of pupils can be seen cheering wildly while some residents walk past the spectacle, seemingly unbothered by the indecent display.
Sources told B-Metro that such “weddings” had become common at the school and sexual decadence was at an all-time high.
The footage has left many questioning the morals of the younger generation, with some residents blaming lax parental control and a failing education system for the decay.
“This is not just embarrassing, it’s heartbreaking,” fumed a visibly shaken granny, who spoke to B-Metro while clutching her chest. “Our children are supposed to be learning in school, not pretending to be husband and wife in public like this. Where are their parents? Where are the teachers? This is a disgrace to our whole community.”
Another angry resident added, “We saw it happen in broad daylight. The boy is about to write his O-levels, and the girl is still very young in Form Two. They kissed in front of everyone, even elderly people, as if it was normal. It’s like these children no longer fear or respect anyone.”
When B-Metro visited the area, the decay was evident. The school banner was faded and illegible, a stark symbol of neglect. As reporters investigated, they came across a young Form One pupil nursing a swollen face and bruised lip.
Through tears, the boy revealed that he had been beaten by classmates simply for greeting another boy’s girlfriend.
“They attacked me just because I said hello to her,” he whispered, his voice trembling. The incident painted a grim picture of a toxic culture brewing among the learners.
Efforts to get a comment from the school head, Thuthani Nkomo, hit a dead end. Over the phone, he tersely said, “I am not allowed to comment on such issues. You will need to speak to the Mbizo District office at Mhlahlandlela,” before hanging up.
However, Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education spokesperson, Taungana Ndoro, confirmed awareness of the viral video and expressed deep concern.
“While the incident took place outside school grounds, the core behaviour depicted is worrying,” Ndoro said. “Schools are centres of learning and development. Such early indulgences distract learners from their academic focus and personal growth.”
He revealed that the ministry’s immediate response would be to offer counselling to those involved and reinforce values of Ubuntu/unhu.
“Our objective is to guide these learners to understand the consequences of their actions. At this stage of their lives, they must prioritise education over such behaviours,” he said.
As Emganwini grapples with the scandal, parents and community leaders are calling for urgent action to restore discipline before the situation spirals further out of control.
“This is only the beginning,” warned an elder. “If nothing is done, we will lose an entire generation.”
The incident has brought the raging debate of corporal punishment, which was outlawed in Zimbabwean School, back into focus.
Those who call for its return say such behaviour was unheard of when teachers were allowed to beat children who misbehaved.
On the other hand, people who are against it say beating children instills violence in them at an early age and alternatives like counselling should be explored.
