Teacher jailed for assaulting colleague over bright student

A 42-YEAR-OLD David Livingstone Primary School teacher was yesterday jailed for an effective 10 months by Harare magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti after being convicted of assaulting a colleague over allocation of bright students.

Sandra Hunyenye was not given the option of a fine or a suspended portion of the jail term.

In passing sentence, Muchuchuti said teachers were expected to be exemplary to society and were entrusted by parents to nurture their children in a good manner and attitude.

She further said Hunyenye should have sought clarification from the school head before taking the matter into her own hands and as such a custodial sentence would deter people from disrespecting each other at workplaces.

The court heard the incident occurred on January 25 this year at around 10am when Precious Nyemba, who is a Grade Five teacher, was ordered by the headmaster, Newton Ndhlela, to take two pupils from Hunyenye's class in exchange for two pupils from her class.

This did not go down well with Hunyenye, who then told Nyemba to return her students if she had offered her dull pupils in exchange for her bright ones.

Hunyenye then insulted Nyemba labelling her a prostitute and following her to her classroom where she assaulted her with fists on the head and hit her head against the wall three times.

Hunyenye further pulled and uprooted Nyemba's hair, but was restrained from further assaulting her by the headmaster and other teachers.

Nyemba sustained a swollen face.