School head in court for sexual assault

Wilbrought Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter

A SCHOOL principal at a private college in Bulawayo has been brought before the courts for allegedly sexually assaulting a 16-year-old pupil.

The principal from Herentals College is alleged to have grabbed the pupil’s waist, pulling her closer to him while proposing love to her. This was heard before Bulawayo Magistrate Mr Dambudzo Malunga who remanded the accused out of custody to 15 May for continuation of trial.

According to the State, as presented by the prosecutor, Ms Potia Mashazhu, the incident took place on 4 April 2023 at the college’s city centre branch. The accused is alleged to have called the complainant into his office during lessons and expressed his love for her before grabbing her by her waist without her consent.

“It was during the English lesson when the principal called the complainant to his office. The accused is alleged to have then stood and closed the door of the office and sat on his desk, then grabbed the complainant by the waist and told her that he loves her before she escaped from his grip and ran out of the office,” said Ms Mashazhu.

After the incident, it is alleged that the complainant returned to the English lesson and the principal was the one teaching the subject. However, the accused did not return to teach on that day. The complainant later narrated her ordeal to a friend what had transpired and it came to light that it was not the first time the principal had proposed love to the complainant.