Teacher bombs school

The Manunure High School teacher who petrol-bombed his school reception with the intention of destroying receipt books has been jailed.

Patrick Zvandikona was sentenced last Thursday to 45 months in prison, but will only serve 30 months after provincial magistrate Ngoni Nduna suspended 10 months on condition he restituted Manunure $4 607, which is the value of the property destroyed in the fire.

The State, led by Michelle Daraja, had told the court that Zvandikona was caught on CCTV bombing the school administration block, while covering himself in a white jacket.

The jacket was recovered at Zvandikona's home. He was also caught on camera at a fuel station buying five litres of petrol on the night before the attack.

Daraja told the court Zvandikona wanted to cover up for embezzling $425 which he had converted to his own use.

In passing sentence Nduna said Zvandikona was a selfish and merciless individual who had stolen school funds and senselessly sought to destroy the school administration block worth thousands of dollars just to destroy evidence.

"Zvandikona was selfish to have converted school funds to his personal use. Further, he was merciless in wanting to shift the spotlight to the bursar by seeking to destroy the reception, if the CCTV had not captured him. I also come to my decision basing on the type of man who would want to destroy a government building which benefits hundreds of pupils in this country," said Nduna.

Nduna also suspended another five months of the sentence on condition of good behaviour.