Lesbianism scandal rocks Adventist high school

HANKE Adventist High School in Shurugwi has been rocked by a lesbianism scandal after two female pupils suspected to be in an illicit love affair were caught in a compromising position in one of the girls' dormitories.

Sources at the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church-run school said the two, (Upper Six and Form Two), were beaten up by their incensed schoolmates who accused them of soiling the school's reputation. The incident, which took place last month, has been the talk of the rural setting where the school is situated.

It is alleged that the two pupils, who were caught French-kissing and caressing each other, were suspected to be lovers since last year as fellow pupils questioned their close friendship. The suspected lesbian lovebirds now await their fate after school authorities referred the matter to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, the sources said.

School head Mr Peter Svondo could neither confirm nor deny the incident. He referred questions to the Midlands provincial education director (PED) Mrs Agnes Gudo.

"I can't comment. Can I ask you to get in touch with the provincial education director," said Mr Svondo.

Mrs Gudo confirmed the matter which she said her office was consulting on first before making a determination.

She revealed that information received from the school authorities indicated that the two girls had confessed their illicit intimate affair.

"We got input from the school and we are in possession of a report that we are looking at with our disciplinary committee here at the office. It is our first time to handle such a matter so we are consulting first. The girls made their input where they confessed that they were kissing and touching. It's really our first time to have such a case in the province," said Mrs Gudo.

This is not the first time that a school has been caught up in lesbianism scandal as a teacher in Matabeleland North Province was in September this year caught in a storm amid claims that some schoolgirls were fighting over her after she proposed love to them. Sometime in 2009 two high school girls in Bulawayo were expelled after their illicit affair was discovered when one of the girls' stepmother received and read a text message meant for her daughter on her cellphone.