adminAdelaide Moyo Chronicle Reporter
A HEADMASTER at a Victoria Falls school, who injured a pupil on the buttocks while administering corporal punishment, has been fined $350 for the assault.
Jabulani Mkhwananzi, 53, the headmaster of St Michael’s Primary School in Mbizha on the outskirts of Victoria Falls, used a log to beat up a Grade Seven pupil a fortnight ago.
He pleaded guilty to assault when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa who fined him $350.
He will spend three months in prison if he fails to pay.
Mkwananzi beat the12-year-old boy after seeing him fighting with a classmate.
The magistrate advised Mkhwananzi to control his temper in future.
“As a school head you’re obliged to protect pupils and not to hurt them. What you did was wrong and you have to take responsibility for your actions,” said the magistrate.
Mkhwananzi pleaded for leniency.
“I’ve been teaching since 1984 and this has never happened to me. What happened was an accident as I didn’t realise that I beat up the boy so hard,” he said.
“I ask the court to be lenient with me because I’m already in trouble at work and I might lose my job because of this.”
Prosecuting, Takunda Ndovorwi told the court that on November 19 at around 1PM, a Grade Seven pupil was playing with his friend when one of his classmates threw a stone at him.
“The 12-year-old boy chased after the pupil who ran away and hid behind the headmaster. The headmaster took the complainant to his office where he beat him up several times on the buttocks using a log,” said the prosecutor.
The court heard that the boy was injured as a result of the assault.
After the assault, the court further heard, Mkhwananzi released the injured boy who could not walk properly.
A priest found him by the roadside and took him to Lukunguni Clinic.
A report was made to the police the following day resulting in Mkhwananzi’s arrest.
Online Reporter