Manicaland Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba,
confirmed the incident which happened at the Ezekiel Guti Academy situated near
Zimunya Township along the Mutare-Chimanimani Highway.
The case came to light after the father of the accused
pupil visited The Manica Post offices to complain over the manner in which the
case was handled by the school’s administration.
Mr Shumba said the college, which was an independent
institution, had not been cleared to have boarding facilities.
He said the sexual abuse case allegedly took place in the
students’ halls of residence, adding that the institution’s set-up does not
make room for the monitoring of students in their dormitories.
“We have gathered that a disciplinary hearing was done and
the suspected learner was expelled from the boarding facility and is now
attending school as a day scholar. However, the boarding facility at this
school is illegal and we have since told them to shut it down.
“These colleges do not have room for boarding facilities.
There are certain things that are supposed to be available at a boarding
school, including the quality of care that has to be given to boarders. All
these are definitely lacking at this college.
“This case should have been formally reported to the
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education. I don’t have a written version of
what actually took place, but the report I got is that the abuse was
investigated at the school.
“While this is an independent college, we have told the
institution’s officials that this is not acceptable. We have told them that
they need to do away with the boarding facility as they are clearly failing to
take care of the boarders. They have no capacity to do that. This case has
exposed their shortcomings,” he said.
However, the college’s board member, Mr Samuel Mutsaga,
said he was not aware of the ministry’s directive for them to close the
boarding facilities at the institution.
“I am not aware of that. I will have to talk to the
principal first and then engage the ministry over that issue.
“Coming to the sexual abuse case, the board was briefed
about the issue by the principal and our understanding is that the involved
student was found guilty and is no longer a boarder at the college.
“If this boy’s parent is not happy with the way the hearing
was conducted, he should have followed proper procedures and brought his
complaint to our attention, not to take the issue to the media. His actions are
meant to tarnish the good image of the college,” said Mr Mutsaga.
School principal, Mr Silas Kaziboni said they are a
Christian institution that does not tolerate any wayward behaviour.
“That pupil acted wrongly and as a school we need to send a
clear message that we do not condone such behaviour. A disciplinary committee
was set up and it found him guilty.
“Our boarding facilities are up to standard save for a few
upgrades the ministry recommended. We are working on those. “Hopefully when
schools open next term everything will be in order,” he said.
But the accused pupil’s father who cannot be named to
protect the juvenile’s identity claimed that a kangaroo disciplinary hearing
was conducted in the absence of witnesses in order to chuck his son out of the
learning institution’s dormitories.
“This whole thing was a set-up. I told the school’s
administration that the case should be thoroughly investigated, even enlisting
the services of the police. There were no witnesses as the victims who are said
to have been abused are telling a different story. They say they were never
abused.
“The case was not reported to the police as there are no
witnesses or any evidence. They have no right to expel my son from the boarding
facilities,” he fumed. ManicaPost
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