Government probes Waddilove sodomy case

The case follows reports and complaints from concerned parents who have since started withdrawing their children from the school.
The juvenile was sentenced to three strokes of the cane to be administered by a designated offi­cer.
Several parents recently signed a petition sent to Mashonaland East provincial education director Mr Sylvester Matshaka.
The petition was also copied to Public Ser­vice Commission provincial head Mr Farai Chimombe.
The parents accused school authorities, including the boarding master, of trying to hide the report that led to the boy’s arrest.
The boy was sexually assaulted on July 18 this year.
The boarding master was also accused of clashing with teachers who had reported the sodomy case.
He accused them of fabricating the case to tarnish his image.
The headmaster allegedly allowed the con­victed juvenile back at school when the case was still in the courts.
The case was, however, unearthed during a Parents Teachers’ Association meeting on October 3 this year.
Mr Matshaka yesterday confirmed receiving such reports.
He said he had since met Reverend Mafala Masuku, the church’s education secretary.
“I can confirm that we received the reports, but we are officially dealing with the sodomy case only,” he said.
Mr Matshaka said he had since deployed officials to the school, including those from the Schools Psychological Support Unit.
He said the officials would look at the most appropriate action to be taken while providing counselling for the affected pupils.
Mr Matshaka said the Human Resources Disciplinary Action department was also han­dling the sodomy issue.
“The team we sent is yet to present its report and we promise to take appropriate action so that sanity prevails at the school.
“We also expect to hear the boarding mas­ter’s side of the story as he was put to his defence,” said Mr Matshaka.
He decried the situation where some posts at private and mission schools were occupied by people outside Government structures.
Mr Matshaka said it was Government policy for all non-teaching staff at schools to have qualifications approved by the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture.
He said his office was also investigating fur­ther allegations raised by the parents.
Mr Matshaka, however, said he was not in a position to comment on the matter.
Rev Masuku said church authorities had been waiting for the determination of the sodomy case before carrying out full investiga­tions.
“Today (yesterday) we will be holding a meeting with the Methodist Church in Zim­babwe presiding Bishop Ndumbi to deal with all the complaints we received from the school,” he said.
Rev Masuku said the church’s disciplinary committee would make a deter­mination con­sidering the gravity of any misdemeanour by the school staff.
In a letter to Reverend Masuku, a parent accused the boarding master of dis­missing complaints by the abused boy.
“The boarding master does not report any cases involving children to the headmaster.”
He also accused the boarding master of dis­regarding a directive to transfer the abused child to another dormitory.
He accused the headmaster of failing to superintend his staff.
“Cases of child abuse (are) still going on at Waddilove Primary and teachers are instructed to close mouth (sic) on my child’s case.”
The father accused the headmaster of failing to arrange a meeting between the affected par­ties including the convicted boy’s parents.
“The headmaster allowed the offender back at the school without coun­selling and rehabilitation.
“My child runs away if he sees the offender and is not walking properly.”
Other allegations that have been brought to Mr Matshaka’s attention include the burning of children’s property at the girls’ dormitory on September 19 this year.
The case was reported to the police but parents were not informed about the allegations.
The parents also allege that a school security guard beat up pupils during the night of October 5 while he was under the influence of alcohol.
Parents and guardians have since started transferring their children from the school.

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