adminThandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A NYAMANDLOVU teacher who sent Grade Five pupils to play outside so that he could rape their classmate, was yesterday sentenced to 15 years in jail.
Bonfas Ndlovu, 35, used a chalk-board duster to wipe off his semen after raping the victim who was 12 years old at the time in 2013.
Villagers effected a citizens’ arrest this year when he returned to the school and tried to rape the girl for the second time.
Regional magistrate Chrispen Mberewere heard how Ndlovu approached the girl two years later and said: “Do you still remember what I did to you two years ago? I want to do it again.”
Passing sentence yesterday, the magistrate said Ndlovu deserved a deterrent jail term.
“Cases of rape are on the increase and the courts are mandated to protect communities from like-minded people. You’re sentenced to 15 years in jail of which three years are suspended on condition of good behaviour,” said magistrate Mberewere.
Ndlovu, who was a temporary teacher at Zimdabule Primary School, had pleaded not guilty to rape.
In his defence, Ndlovu said the girl was being used by the school to discourage him from asking for his wages.
“I only spoke to this girl advising her to take school work seriously. I never raped or attempted to rape her. This is a stitch-up to stop me from demanding my due wages which the school parents’ committee is refusing to pay,” said Ndlovu.
In her testimony, the girl’s stepmother said she had gone to a funeral wake in Bulawayo when she received a phone call informing her that he daughter was almost raped.
“I rushed back to Nyamandlovu. When I asked my daughter, at first she didn’t reveal that she had been raped by Ndlovu. I kept on asking and she finally told me that Ndlovu had raped her the previous year,” said the woman.
She claimed that Ndlovu was arrested on several rape allegations at the school but no one knows what happened to the charges as he was seen roaming free afterwards.
“I used to ask my daughters if Ndlovu had abused them in any way as we heard that he was once arrested for rape. My daughter failed to report Ndlovu because he threatened to kill her if she revealed the matter to anyone.”
The girl’s younger sister, who saved her from the second rape ordeal, also testified in camera and told the court that their neighbour had tipped off members of the neighbourhood watch committee, leading to Ndlovu’s arrest.
Prosecuting Concilia Ncube said in July 2013, Ndlovu ordered the whole class to go to the school playground and remained with the girl.
“He then lifted her onto a desk, undressed her and undressed himself threatening to assault her if she made any noise.
“When he was about to rape the girl, he noticed other children were coming back to the class and quickly dressed up and told them to play far away from the class,” said Ncube.
“He then went back to the class and continued with his act. The girl saw white fluid flowing down her thighs and Ndlovu took a chalk-board duster and wiped it off.”
Ndlovu, according to Ncube, dressed up and ordered the girl to dress and not tell anyone about the incident.
“On November 21 last year, Ndlovu approached the girl while her stepmother was away and told her he wanted to have sex with her.
“He later ordered the girl to follow him to the community gardens and the girl notified her young sister who saw Ndlovu.”
Ncube said the younger sister told their neighbour whose husband is a member of the neighbourhood watch committee.
The court heard how the neighbour mobilised villagers to apprehend Ndlovu.
Bongani Ndlovu