Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
A 46-year-old caretaker at a school in Hwange has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the horrific indecent assault of 17 female pupils, in a deeply disturbing pattern of abuse that spanned months.
Darlington Sithole’s predatory behaviour came to light only after a prolonged period of targeting girls in Grades 6 and 7. He frequently cornered his young victims in secluded areas within the school grounds, including toilets and gardens. The assaults involved fondling, caressing, and grabbing the girls by their waists. Sithole ruthlessly exploited their vulnerability, silencing them with chilling threats of violence, warning he would kill them if they reported his actions.
The full extent of his crimes emerged following a crucial lecture on child sexual abuse delivered by a brave headmistress, who urged pupils to speak out if they had been victimised. Inspired by this vital intervention, one of the victims courageously wrote an anonymous letter to her teacher, which subsequently triggered an immediate investigation.
Despite pleading not guilty to all 17 counts of indecent assault, Sithole was convicted by Hwange provincial magistrate, Ms Rumbidzai Kabasa, after a thorough trial. The magistrate handed down a 10-year prison sentence, with one year suspended for five years on the condition that he commit no similar offence during that period. This means Sithole will serve an effective nine years behind bars for his heinous crimes.
Prosecutor Ms Felicity Sibanda informed the court that the assaults commenced in January last year and remained hidden for a distressing nine months before finally coming to light. The court heard that Sithole systematically targeted girls in Grades 6 and 7, often ambushing them individually at the toilets and other isolated spots.
Ms Sibanda recounted specific instances of the abuse.
“The accused person caressed one of the complainants several times on her shoulders. The complainant managed to free herself from the accused and went back to the classroom but did not report the matter to anyone.”
On another occasion, sometime in October last year, just after break time, Sithole spotted one of the complainants walking alone past a garden where he was watering vegetables.
“The accused suddenly held her by her right hand and massaged it. He went on to hold her right shoulder and massaged her and the complainant tried to wrestle but Sibanda overpowered her,” the prosecutor detailed.
On a separate day, also in October, the accused spotted another complainant walking towards the school garden.
He stopped her, grabbed her hand, and then proceeded to touch her buttocks and fondle her breasts.
In yet another incident during the same month, Sithole saw another complainant heading to the toilet with her friend during break time.
He called the two girls over and ordered them to pick up pieces of paper from the ground, which they did. The complainant’s friend picked up the papers and returned to the classroom, leaving the complainant alone.
Sithole then seized the opportunity, grabbed her waist, and began touching her buttocks.
The victim bravely managed to free herself and hurried back to her classroom.
The pivotal breakthrough came on October 23, when one of the victims submitted her anonymous letter to her teacher, who immediately alerted the school headmistress.
“This prompted the school headmistress to give a lesson on child sexual abuse to the Grades 5 and 6 pupils. After the lecture, she urged the pupils who had been abused to report to their respective class teachers and the complainants began to break their silence by submitting their names,” the prosecutor said.
The shocking details were then reported to ZRP Hwange, leading to a swift investigation and Sithole’s subsequent arrest.
