Sexual relations with pupils rife in teaching profession, says Zimta

Zimbabwe Teachers' Association (Zimta)'s legal department has said cases of teachers' improper association with pupils have increased and there is a need to bring this malpractice to an end.

"Cases of improper association with minors have also not declined and all the teachers found guilty of this offence are being discharged from the service with no hope of joining the service again," reads part of legal department's report presented at  its Annual National Conference.

The association said it would also not tolerate more cases of sexual harassment of trainee teachers at training institutions, saying female students needed to be protected so that they do not fall prey to their trainers.

A Zimta Women's Caucus that met on Friday night also said there were several cases of female trainee teachers who were passing their diplomas after giving sexual favours to trainers and they said they would not tolerate such activities.

"We do not want our students to be exposed to such while they are training and this has to stop. Students give a thigh for a pass and it is not doing them any good, they have to earn their marks," said Mrs Elizabeth Mahiyana, the National Women Teachers representative.

 Zimta secretary general Mr John Mulilo told the conference that there were numerous cases of misconduct within the profession.

"There were 33 cases of improper association and it doesn't speak well of us as an association, this has to come to an end as it does not augur well with our values," he said.

On the issue of finance-related incidents of misconduct, there were 24 cases reported to which he said poor remuneration of teachers was pushing them into committing crimes.

"These finance-related crimes underscore our levels of underpayment," he said.