Headmaster rapes mentally ill pupil

A RUSAPE headmaster was recently arrested for allegedly raping a 15-year-old pupil who is mentally challenged before expelling her from the school for revealing the abuse.

Evans Gotora (28), who doubles as a teacher and a headmaster of Arise Private College which is run by End Time Message Church, appeared before Rusape regional magistrate Mr Livingstone Chipadza on Wednesday.

Gotora of house number 2476 Mabvazuva, who is represented by prominent Rusape lawyer Mr Maxwell Chiwanza of Chiwanza and Associates, pleaded not guilty to the charge, saying he learnt of the case from other pupils who said the complainant was going around claiming that she had slept with him. In her evidence in court, the girl, said Gotora carried her on his bicycle carrier to his home and raped her on two different occasions.

She claimed that Gotora threatened to kill her or expel her from the school if she divulged the abuse to anyone.

The girl also added that after the alleged abuse by Gotora, various school boys whom she named also abused her, telling her that if the headmaster had done it, they should also follow  suit.

Rusape district prosecutor Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira told the court Gotora expelled the Form One girl from school after she revealed the abuse to her friend.

"Gotora was the complainant's teacher and headmaster at Arise Private College. Complainant is mentally retarded. The accused approached the complainant and told her that he wanted to take her to his house and sleep with her. The complainant agreed and Gotora placed the complainant on the carrier of his bicycle and rode to his house.

"While at the house, accused proceeded to rape that girl. The accused threatened to kill the complainant if she disclosed the incident to anyone," said Mr Mutyasira.

Mr Chipadza adjourned the matter to September 27.