News / National
Primary school teacher rapes 11-year-old pupil
24 Apr 2012 at 20:59hrs | Views
A primary school teacher in Chitugwiza has bee jailed for 11 years for raping an 11-year-old Grade Five pupil.
Raphel Chabvunyira (39), who is a teacher at Dudirirai primary school denied the charges when his trial opened before Chitungwiza regional magistrate Ms Gladys Pise.
He was convicted because of overwhelming evidence against him.
Mugiya and Associates were representing Chabvunyira.
Ms Pise slapped him with 16 years but set aside five years on condition of good behaviour. In his defence, he told the court that the 11-year-old girl would not attend school everyday in 2011. Chabvunyira said the girl's stepmother called and confided in him to help the child because two minor relatives had allegedly raped her when she was still living in the rural areas.
In assessing the sentence, Ms Pise said Chabvunyira had displayed serious disregard of the law.
He breached the trust bestowed upon him by the State as well as the girl's parents in entrusting him with the child, added Ms Pise.
The court heard that sometime in October last year, Chabvunyira dismissed his class and ordered them to go and sit under a tree waiting for extra lessons. The girl decided not to stay for the extra lessons and went home.
Chabvunyira sent another pupil to go and call her back. The girl complied and returned to school.
After the lessons at around 4pm, she left for home but Chabvunyira followed her and caught up with her in a bushy area. He pushed the girl to the ground and produced a knife.
When she tried to cry he threatened her with the knife and raped her.
He threatened to kill the minor if she revealed the matter.
She later started to experience pains on her private parts leading her mother to notice the change in her behaviour.
She called the girl's aunt from Kuwadzana who came and took her to her place. However, she revealed the rape to her other aunt who had come from their rural home.
A report was filed with the police leading to the teacher's arrest.
Mr Mugaviri Mugaviri prosecuted.
Raphel Chabvunyira (39), who is a teacher at Dudirirai primary school denied the charges when his trial opened before Chitungwiza regional magistrate Ms Gladys Pise.
He was convicted because of overwhelming evidence against him.
Mugiya and Associates were representing Chabvunyira.
Ms Pise slapped him with 16 years but set aside five years on condition of good behaviour. In his defence, he told the court that the 11-year-old girl would not attend school everyday in 2011. Chabvunyira said the girl's stepmother called and confided in him to help the child because two minor relatives had allegedly raped her when she was still living in the rural areas.
In assessing the sentence, Ms Pise said Chabvunyira had displayed serious disregard of the law.
He breached the trust bestowed upon him by the State as well as the girl's parents in entrusting him with the child, added Ms Pise.
The court heard that sometime in October last year, Chabvunyira dismissed his class and ordered them to go and sit under a tree waiting for extra lessons. The girl decided not to stay for the extra lessons and went home.
Chabvunyira sent another pupil to go and call her back. The girl complied and returned to school.
After the lessons at around 4pm, she left for home but Chabvunyira followed her and caught up with her in a bushy area. He pushed the girl to the ground and produced a knife.
When she tried to cry he threatened her with the knife and raped her.
He threatened to kill the minor if she revealed the matter.
She later started to experience pains on her private parts leading her mother to notice the change in her behaviour.
She called the girl's aunt from Kuwadzana who came and took her to her place. However, she revealed the rape to her other aunt who had come from their rural home.
A report was filed with the police leading to the teacher's arrest.
Mr Mugaviri Mugaviri prosecuted.
Source - Courts
