News / National
SDC chairperson convicted of cyberbullying headmistress
6 hrs ago | Views
A former School Development Committee (SDC) chairperson at Chinotimba Primary School in Victoria Falls has been convicted and sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment for cyberbullying the school's headmistress earlier this year.
Bhekimpilo Tshongwe (37), of Chinotimba, was found guilty of violating the Cyber and Data Protection Act after he sent a defamatory WhatsApp message to a parents' group, falsely accusing the headmistress, Mrs Thandiwe Matema, of trying to remove the SDC to conceal her alleged misconduct.
Victoria Falls Magistrate Mr Gift Manyika handed down the sentence on Thursday. However, Tshongwe was spared jail time. Four months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, while the remaining six months were set aside on condition he performs 210 hours of community service at the Victoria Falls Magistrates' Court.
Prosecutor Mrs Audrey Mukanganya told the court that Tshongwe's message, sent on 8 February 2025, was intended to harass, intimidate, and humiliate Mrs Matema, causing her substantial emotional distress.
"The offence came to light when Mrs Matema received the defamatory message, which had been shared by one of the parents," said Mrs Mukanganya. The school head later reported the matter to the police, leading to Tshongwe's arrest.
In a separate but similar case, another Chinotimba resident, Ivonne Dube (37), was convicted and fined US$250 for cyberbullying and harassment under the same law.
According to court proceedings, Dube sent a voice message via WhatsApp on 9 May 2025 to a woman identified as Thandiwe Nyoni, calling her a dog, a prostitute, and claiming she was HIV-positive. The insults, spoken in iSiNdebele, followed a confrontation the previous day at Chinotimba rank, where Dube had accused Nyoni of being involved with her boyfriend.
The State argued that Dube's actions were meant to coerce, demean, and cause substantial emotional harm to the complainant. Nyoni filed a report with the police, leading to Dube's arrest.
Both cases highlight the growing trend of cyberbullying in the digital age and come amid increasing calls for the enforcement of Zimbabwe's cyber laws to protect citizens from online abuse.
Bhekimpilo Tshongwe (37), of Chinotimba, was found guilty of violating the Cyber and Data Protection Act after he sent a defamatory WhatsApp message to a parents' group, falsely accusing the headmistress, Mrs Thandiwe Matema, of trying to remove the SDC to conceal her alleged misconduct.
Victoria Falls Magistrate Mr Gift Manyika handed down the sentence on Thursday. However, Tshongwe was spared jail time. Four months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, while the remaining six months were set aside on condition he performs 210 hours of community service at the Victoria Falls Magistrates' Court.
Prosecutor Mrs Audrey Mukanganya told the court that Tshongwe's message, sent on 8 February 2025, was intended to harass, intimidate, and humiliate Mrs Matema, causing her substantial emotional distress.
In a separate but similar case, another Chinotimba resident, Ivonne Dube (37), was convicted and fined US$250 for cyberbullying and harassment under the same law.
According to court proceedings, Dube sent a voice message via WhatsApp on 9 May 2025 to a woman identified as Thandiwe Nyoni, calling her a dog, a prostitute, and claiming she was HIV-positive. The insults, spoken in iSiNdebele, followed a confrontation the previous day at Chinotimba rank, where Dube had accused Nyoni of being involved with her boyfriend.
The State argued that Dube's actions were meant to coerce, demean, and cause substantial emotional harm to the complainant. Nyoni filed a report with the police, leading to Dube's arrest.
Both cases highlight the growing trend of cyberbullying in the digital age and come amid increasing calls for the enforcement of Zimbabwe's cyber laws to protect citizens from online abuse.
Source - Sunday News
