adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A HEADMASTER at a private primary school in Victoria Falls has been arrested for allegedly assaulting a teacher in front of pupils.
The two had a misunderstanding over the shortage of report books at the school, a court heard.
Bekithemba Sibanda, 43, of Chinotimba suburb, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Dennis Mazarira when he appeared before Victoria Falls resident magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa.
Sibanda and Mazarira were both employed at AD Junior School when the incident occurred in December last year. Mazarira has since transferred to Simakade Primary in Jambezi.
Sibanda claimed in court that Mazarira fabricated the charges to cover up for his acts of misconduct, which were not specified, at the school.
He said Mazarira was a troublemaker that’s why he had transferred to another school.
“He only raised assault charges because he wants to conceal his acts of misconduct. We have reported him to the District Education Officer and the Civil Service Commission on numerous occasions for such cases of misconduct,” said Sibanda through his lawyer Thulani Nkala of Dube and Company.
Mazarira said: “The accused came to me and asked for names of pupils who didn’t have report books. I was the teacher in charge and I gave him the information that he needed.’
Sibanda is out of custody on his own cognisance.
Prosecuting, Listen Nare said the headmaster slapped Mazarira when he was in class.
“On December 2 last year at about 10AM, Sibanda and Mazarira had a misunderstanding over shortage of report books. The accused ended up slapping the complainant once on the left cheek while in class,” said Nare.
The trial continues on April 13.
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derick.khumalo