adminSukoluhle Ndlovu Midlands Correspondent
TWO teachers from Svika High School in Shurugwi have been suspended by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education on allegations of having sexual relations with 11 pupils, one of whom fell pregnant.
Mr Lordshare Mapolisa, a senior teacher at the school, reportedly had affairs with his pupils, while his counterpart Mr Fortune Jokonoko also allegedly had an affair with Form Four pupils and impregnated one of them.
The girl who was impregnated was allegedly contemplating abortion.
According to suspension letters served on Messrs Mapolisa and Jokonoko, the matter came to light when the girl who fell pregnant confided in one of her friends that she wanted to abort.
The pupil then allegedly wrote an anonymous letter to the school headmaster Mr Petro Shumba alerting him about the gross misconduct of the teachers, which resulted in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education investigating the alleged misconduct.
A letter in our possession dated January 5 and signed by Midlands Provincial Education director Mrs Agnes Gudo states that Mr Mapolisa had an affair with four other pupils (names withheld).
The letter also states that the two had sexual relations with students on several occasions at the High School.
Mr Jokonoko, according to his suspension letter, also allegedly had affairs with about seven pupils.
Both teachers have been ordered not to report for work because they would seriously impair the proper administration of the school.
“In terms of section 48 (2), the reason in this order are that your continued performance of duties would seriously impair the proper administration of the school, will be undesirable in the public interest, and that the two might hinder any investigations relating to the alleged misconduct,” read the letter.
According to the letter, the pupil who was suspected to be pregnant was taken to the nearby clinic for a pregnancy test by a senior woman at the school and the result was positive.
“The information gathered stated that one of the pupils was pregnant and that she wanted to abort. The headmaster then tasked the senior woman to take the pupil to the clinic for a pregnancy test and she tested positive.
‘‘During an interview with a nurse at the clinic, the pupil revealed that she was impregnated by Mr Jokonoko,” read part of the letter.
Last year the Zimbabwe Teachers’ Association (Zimta)’s legal department said cases of teachers’ improper association with pupils had increased and there was a need to bring the practice to an end.
Online Reporter