Minda High School teacher rapes pupil, arrested

A 29-year-old teacher from Minda High School at Maphisa Growth Point in Kezi allegedly raped one of his pupils, an orphan aged 17, after she turned down his love proposal, police said yesterday.

The suspect was the pupil's History teacher and was known for offering the girl extra lessons, saying she was not performing well in the subject.

Minda is a Catholic Church-run girls' boarding school.

Confirming the incident yesterday, Matabeleland South police spokesperson Sergeant Loveness Mangena said the teacher had been arrested and would soon appear in court.

"The incident occurred last year but the rape was only reported this week. The teacher had a tendency of calling  the girl to his office, saying he wanted to help her pass the subject.

"The girl was a Form Four pupil then and she agreed to have extra History lessons at the teacher's office," said Sgt Mangena.

She said the teacher started proposing love to the girl, who turned down the proposal.

"On an unknown date in October, the teacher called the girl to his office and demanded to know why she turned him down. He then took out a condom, opened and wore it without saying anything.

"Sensing danger the girl tried to escape  from the office but the teacher blocked her way. He then dragged her, laid her on top of a desk and raped her once," said Sgt Mangena.

She said the girl told no one about the issue  until she went back to the orphanage where she is being taken care of.

"Sometime in December last year, the girl informed the orphanage administrator. The administrator is the one who made a report to the police last week, leading to the arrest of the teacher," said Sgt Mangena.