Teacher stole from pupils

Fungai Jachi Court Reporter
A Kubatana Primary School teacher in Epworth yesterday appeared in court on allegations of stealing from his pupils. Pikanos Gahadzikwa (40) pleaded not guilty to theft of trust property charges when he appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Batanai Madzingira who remanded Gahadzikwa to May 15 on $50 bail.

As part of his bail conditions, Gahadzikwa was ordered not to interfere with witnesses and to reside at the address he gave to the court.

Prosecutor Mr Progress Maringamoyo alleged that sometime last year Gahadzikwa approached a Grade Four pupil Tinashe Musunza who was in a queue to pay fees and asked him to give him $105 so that he would pay on his behalf.

He allegedly paid $30 and converted the remainder to his own use.

It is alleged that he went on to approach another Grade Four pupil, Christabel Zulu, who also intended to pay fees and was given $40.

Gahadzikwa allegedly told the girl that he had been sent by her mother, but he never paid the school fees.

He also approached a parent identified only as Mrs Chakanyuka who was in desperate need for her child’s place after the school head told her that there were no more places.

It is alleged that Gahadzikwa promised to talk to the school head so that Mrs Chakanyuka’s daughter would get a place.

He asked her to give him $107 meant for school fees so that he would pay on her behalf. Allegations are that he never paid the school fees and the girl did not get a place at the school.