Founders High School teacher gets bail ahead of appeal

A Founders High School teacher who was convicted of raping a 17-year-old pupil and sentenced to 20 years in prison has been granted bail pending appeal.

Obed Rwatiringa, of Barham Green suburb in Bulawayo, who was employed as a Biology teacher at the school, had pleaded not guilty to the charge. However, Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube convicted him and sentenced him to 20 years’ imprisonment.

Rwatiringa subsequently appeared before the Bulawayo High Court Judge, Justice Munamato Mutevedzi, where he was represented by his lawyer, Mr Tinashe Runganga.

In his grounds of appeal, Mr Runganga submitted that there were numerous contradictions in the prosecution’s case. He said the complainant informed a medical doctor that she was a virgin, yet told the court that she had engaged in sexual intercourse prior to the alleged rape by Rwatiringa.

Mr Runganga further argued: “After she was allegedly raped, she told a teacher that the accused person lowered his trouser zip and raped her, while in court she said the accused took off his clothes and raped her. She told the court that the accused placed her on the chair and raped her, and that is a difficult position bearing in mind that she was fighting back. As such, it was going to be difficult to be raped.”

He also told the court that during cross-examination the complainant stated that she did not want the matter to be reported to the police.

“She did not want the matter to be reported to the police and said she was still trying to come to terms with the rape ordeal. There is no evidence that she was raped because she told the court that the accused sent her pornographic material, and it shows that it was consensual.”

In delivering his ruling, Justice Mutevedzi said there was a glimpse of hope in Rwatiringa’s appeal and accordingly granted him bail pending the determination of the appeal. The judge said the parties would be advised of the appeal hearing date.

The State was represented by Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza.

Prosecuting, Mr Jaravaza told the court that Rwatiringa had sent the complainant to buy pies before later proposing a love relationship to her, prompting the complainant to report the matter to a guidance and counselling teacher, whose name was withheld.

“On 21 February 2026, shortly after 1pm, Rwatiringa summoned the complainant to come for extra lessons in the science laboratory. After the lesson, the offender grabbed the complainant’s left hand and put her on the chair. She screamed and tried to resist but was overpowered. He then sexually violated her,” said Mr Jaravaza.

The court heard that the complainant was later subjected to a medical examination, with a medical report produced as part of the State’s evidence.