Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura
A SHOCKING case has rattled Mpopoma after a 40-year-old teacher was dragged to court for allegedly raping his 19-year-old student on three occasions.
Stonehouse Maphosa of Mpopoma suburb appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Pasipanodya Maturure, facing three counts of rape. He is out on bail and was remanded to 4 December for trial.
The State, represented by Christina Manyika, said Maphosa is a teacher at Msiteli High School and taught the complainant. The court heard that trouble began in August when he allegedly asked for her cellphone during school hours, dialled his number into it and returned it to her.
Later that day, he called her asking if she was free, but she told him she was busy.
On another afternoon in August, he phoned again and directed her to his place of residence. When she arrived, he cooked popcorn for her but she refused to eat. Manyika told the court that he fed her a bit, lifted her onto the sink, told her to close her eyes and kissed and hugged her. She jumped down and told him she was going home and he accompanied her.
The court heard that on a different day in August around 5PM, he phoned again and asked her to come over. When she arrived, he asked her what she wanted to eat but she declined. He allegedly lifted her and carried her to the bedroom where he made her lie on the bed, removed his trousers, pulled her dress up and removed her underwear before having sexual intercourse with her without her consent. He then asked if she was angry and she said no before he accompanied her home.
On the second count, the court heard that he again called her on another date in August and she went to his place. She sat on a kitchen chair but he lifted her and carried her to the bedroom where he allegedly raped her again with protection and without consent.
On the third count, Manyika said he called her again during the same month and she went to his house. After refusing food, the complainant was taken to the bedroom where the accused allegedly forced her to bend and raped her with protection.
On November 11, police received a tip off that the complainant had reported the abuse to the school and nothing had been done. Police visited Msiteli High School on 12 November, interviewed the pupil and arrested the teacher. She was referred to Mpilo Central Hospital for medical examination.
