News / Regional
Male teacher inspects 24 pupils including girls' privates, orders them to bath
18 Oct 2015 at 05:29hrs | Views
A DINGANI Primary School teacher accused of sexually assaulting 24 pupils at the school in Dete, Matabeleland North claimed that villagers in the area were framing him because they have previously accused him of "stealing our children's jobs".
Namatai Mudhara (22) made the claims recently when he appeared before provincial magistrate Mrs Portia Mhlanga-Moyo while presenting his defence outline through his lawyer, Mr Tonderai Mukuku, arguing that he was innocent of all the allegations.
"Your worship, I deny all the charges being laid against me. I did not commit the things I stand accused of. The parents of these children are framing me for being a Shona speaker. They have accused me before of stealing their children's jobs by being posted at the school ahead of a local. I pray that the court may acquit me of all the said charges," said Mudhara.
Mudhara is accused of allegedly touching his pupils' private parts before telling them to bath. The initial 24 counts levelled against him were revised to 15 after it emerged that some of the complainants whose ages range from six to 10, had transferred from the school and could not be located while others denied having been abused.
Prosecutor Mr Tinomupeyi Mbiza said between 24 and 25 October last year, Mudhara lined up his class and told them to enter his storeroom one by one. In the storeroom he would make pupils stand on a desk, lower their skirts or shorts to knee level before inserting his finger into the girls' private parts and telling them to bath arguing that they were smelling.
As for the boys, Mudhara is alleged to have touched their private parts before pulling back the foreskin and accusing them of not bathing.
In all these occasions, it is alleged that he told them not to tell anyone. However, some of the children alerted their parents that they had been ordered by their teacher to bath. Further enquiries by their curious parents led to the discovery of the abuse resulting in villagers besieging the school demanding Mudhara's head. A report was made to the police resulting in his arrest.
Mudhara who is out of custody on free bail will know his fate on 22 October when the court pronounces its judgment.
Namatai Mudhara (22) made the claims recently when he appeared before provincial magistrate Mrs Portia Mhlanga-Moyo while presenting his defence outline through his lawyer, Mr Tonderai Mukuku, arguing that he was innocent of all the allegations.
"Your worship, I deny all the charges being laid against me. I did not commit the things I stand accused of. The parents of these children are framing me for being a Shona speaker. They have accused me before of stealing their children's jobs by being posted at the school ahead of a local. I pray that the court may acquit me of all the said charges," said Mudhara.
Mudhara is accused of allegedly touching his pupils' private parts before telling them to bath. The initial 24 counts levelled against him were revised to 15 after it emerged that some of the complainants whose ages range from six to 10, had transferred from the school and could not be located while others denied having been abused.
Prosecutor Mr Tinomupeyi Mbiza said between 24 and 25 October last year, Mudhara lined up his class and told them to enter his storeroom one by one. In the storeroom he would make pupils stand on a desk, lower their skirts or shorts to knee level before inserting his finger into the girls' private parts and telling them to bath arguing that they were smelling.
As for the boys, Mudhara is alleged to have touched their private parts before pulling back the foreskin and accusing them of not bathing.
In all these occasions, it is alleged that he told them not to tell anyone. However, some of the children alerted their parents that they had been ordered by their teacher to bath. Further enquiries by their curious parents led to the discovery of the abuse resulting in villagers besieging the school demanding Mudhara's head. A report was made to the police resulting in his arrest.
Mudhara who is out of custody on free bail will know his fate on 22 October when the court pronounces its judgment.
Source - sundaynews
