The ManicaPost
Blessing Rwizi Post Correspondent—
PARENTS IN Marange are up in arms with a teacher at Matanda Secondary School who faces allegations of sexually abusing female students for close to a decade now.
The irate guardians have since petitioned the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education with a seven-day ultimatum for his removal from the school.
On Tuesday they demanded the transfer of Mr James Chikuni, a history teacher at the school. The parents alleged that Chikuni was bribing the police and ministry officials to cover up his scandals.
In the ensuing turmoil, a delegation from the ministry held a meeting with the incensed parents. The indaba was also attended by the School Development Committee, war veterans and traditional leaders.
Chikuni neither reported for duty nor attended the meeting.
At the meeting, the school’s SDC chairperson, Mrs Martha Masibhera, said: “We have more than five incidents where Chikuni proposed love to female students aged between 14 and 16 years. This occurred between 2003 and 2016.
“In 2003, he impregnated one student (name withheld). He fondled several children and those who rejected his advances would suffer the consequences. He wrote letters to the parent ministry, police, army and war veterans to tarnish the image of the headmaster, Mr Happimore Mafara. This was in retaliation to his scandals that were coming to light.
“Students are wrongly influenced, mobilised and bribed to misbehave towards the head and other teachers. There is no more progress at this school because of his actions.”
In an interview on Wednesday, Mr Chikuni dismissed the allegations.
He said his tiff with the headmaster started when he tipped off the parent ministry to carry out an audit over alleged embezzlement of school funds.
“The audit proved that there was misuse of funds that had to be refunded by Mr Mafara and other staff members. Rape cases were fabricated, but investigations were done by the police and the ministry officials and proved my innocence. Why would a case be reported 12 years down the line? Where were the SDC and the concerned parents all along?
“I am a professional and my relationship with the rest of the teaching staff, students and community shall remain professional. I shall abide by the judgement of the ministry and the police in this matter. Besides, nobody will stop me from going to the school to perform my duties,” he said.
Mr Mafara could not be reached for a comment, while efforts to get a comment from the Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba were fruitless.
