Online Reporter
Paul Pindani in CHINHOYI
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has reiterated that it has ZERO TOLERANCE for sodomy and other forms of criminal conduct in the country’s schools.
Perpetrators will be weeded out of the system and will also face possible criminal prosecution. Ministry spokesperson, Taungana Ndoro, was responding to the suspension of a vice-headboy at a private school here in Chinhoyi, who was accused of allegedly sodomising other students.
The Form Four student was allegedly targeting Form One and Form Two students at the school.
About 12 students are said to have been taken to hospital for medical examinations after the case erupted.
“First and foremost, this is a legal matter before it is a school disciplinary issue,” said Ndoro.
“Zimbabwean law explicitly prohibits such conduct.
“Section 73 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act criminalises ‘sodomy’, defining it as any act of anal sexual intercourse or any indecent act between males.
“The law applies to all persons, including students, and the Government maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards such unlawful acts.
“Under the Education Act and Ministry regulations, serious misconduct involving criminal activity constitutes grounds for expulsion,” he said.
Ndoro said disciplinary measures could include suspension pending investigations, a fair hearing to establish the facts and expulsion if a student was found guilty of serious misconduct, following consultation with the district schools inspector.
“The recent cases demonstrate that these policies are being enforced.
“The school confirmed that it followed due process, reporting the matter to the Ministry and the police.
“This demonstrates our unwavering commitment to student safety — our schools must be safe places for learning.
“All unlawful acts will be dealt with according to the law and school disciplinary measures are aligned with legal statutes.
“Our primary duty is to protect the safety and well-being of all students and to provide full support to victims.”
He added:“We are resolute in upholding the sanctity of our schools, keeping them free from all forms of crime and misconduct.
“We call upon the entire community to help guide students towards positive values.”
Last month, a sports director at Allan Wilson Boys High School, Innocent Kashiri (45), was jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of sodomising a 17-year-old student.
Harare regional magistrate, Jessie Kufa, convicted Kashiri after she found him guilty of aggravated indecent assault. Kashiri was staying at Allan Wilson School cottages.
The State, led by Shiela Mpindu, proved that sometime in 2023, at the Allan Wilson Boys High School Office, Kashiri produced a letter purported to have been authored by the school headmaster, Tafara Zhou, authorising him to have anal sexual intercourse with the complainant.
On the strength of that letter and out of fear of Kashiri, the complainant complied with the demands and was sodomised by Kashiri once.
The complainant later told his science teacher, Susan Sibanda, about the issue and she advised him to file a report to the police on June 19 this year.
