A 35-year-old teacher from Nguboyenja in Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly turning one of his learners into a sex slave, raping her at least four times last month, police have confirmed.
The Advanced Level teacher (name supplied), would allegedly rape the girl inside his office within the school (name withheld) and threaten to harm her if she disclosed the matter to anyone.
The girl got the courage to open up when her mother questioned her change in behaviour on Monday, leading to the teacher’s arrest.
This comes at a time when police and civic society have raised concern that people close to children: parents, guardians, teachers and neighbours are also perpetrators.
Confirming the incident yesterday, Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube bemoaned the increase in rape cases perpetrated by those expected to protect women and girls.
“We received a report on Monday of a learner who was raped by a school teacher repeatedly from February 2023. The accused person teaches A’ Level learners at the same school,” said Insp Ncube.
“He would ask the complainant to carry his books to his secluded office in the school and then rape her before threatening her not to tell anyone. The first encounter was sometime during the month of February 2023 at around 10AM when the teacher, who once taught the complainant when she was in Form 1, met her in the company of her classmate in the school yard.”
Insp Ncube said the suspected rapist ordered the two girls to assist him in carrying exercise books to his office.
“Upon arrival, the accused person sent the complainant’s classmate to go to the tap and fetch some water for him and he remained behind with the complainant. He then locked the door and asked the complainant to have sexual intercourse with him, but she refused before he forced himself on the complainant.”
Insp Ncube said that when the victim’s classmate returned she found the door locked from the inside and her friend was crying.
“The accused person later opened the door and the complainant told her friend that the accused had raped her during her absence. She saw some blood stains on the table and the accused person threatened the complainant and her classmate with unspecified action if they ever disclosed the matter to anyone,” he said.
Insp Ncube said the rape ordeal happened on different occasions up to four times.
“The matter came to light when the complainant’s mother noticed some behavioural changes in the complainant and she interviewed the complainant who narrated her ordeal. The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the accused person who is assisting the police with the investigations. Some adults who are expected to provide security and give children better reasons to live and do well, instead turn against innocent children and spoil their lives. The accused will appear in court soon,” added Insp Ncube.
A fact sheet compiled by the Parliament of Zimbabwe’s research department says teachers happen to be among the main perpetrators of child abuse.
In other news – Student kills himself after being sent home over school fees
Dickson Mwenda, a class eight pupil at Kiriari Primary School, was on Tuesday morning asked to go back home because of a shortfall in his fees.
Area assistant chief Nelson Muturi confirmed the incident and told the website the boy “arrived home from school and met her mother tending to other siblings.”Learn More
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