MORE than 100 students at Hillside International College in Harare took to the streets on Wednesday to protest against water and electricity shortages at the school.

The learners marched from a house used as a girl's hostel in Braeside to the main campus situated in the same neighbourhood.

Learners from Form 1 to Form 6 walked and sang in the Braeside neighbourhood in protest over water and electricity they said was cut-off from the school's campuses for more than a week.

When they reached the main campus, the authorities, including teachers and security staff, reportedly ordered them to get into the campus and locked the security gate.

When The Herald visited the school, learners who were predominantly female, were clad in pyjamas and night-dresses instead of their red and white school uniform.

Some were bundled together in a room in front of the entrance, while others basked in the sun. Parents could be seen milling outside the gate and enquiring about their children. Teachers were outside of the classrooms and trying to restore order among the pupils. The college's director and principal Mr Farai Moyo said the school was facing some problems, but they were rectifying them.

"We are failing to access our money since our account at Interfin Bank was frozen. We do not receive cash at this college and a special letter has since been sent to parents explaining the situation. We are trying to solve the electricity problem since we have prepaid electricity meters. On the issue of water, the students are not telling the truth." The pupils had boycotted classes before they embarked on the demonstration.