BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA
The Primary and Secondary Education ministry has fired a 48-year-old Marondera teacher after finding him guilty of fondling a Grade Six pupil.
Peter Rukuni was relieved of his duties following a disciplinary hearing by education officials, who found him guilty of improper association and abuse.
Mashonaland East provincial education director Johannes Guri yesterday confirmed the matter, saying the teacher was yet to appeal against government’s decision.
“I confirm the case of Mr Rukuni, a teacher who was dragged before a disciplinary hearing facing accusations of improper association with a pupil. He was found guilty,” he said.
“The determination was passed to him in January this year before the school opened. He has the right to appeal against the decision, but we haven’t received the appeal yet as we speak. During the hearings, he was represented by some officials from the Progressive Teacher’s Union of Zimbabwe.”
Last week, Rukuni appeared at the Marondera Magistrates’ Court, where he is facing indecent charges.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges of fondling the 12-year-old girl.
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Allegations are that in September last year at around 4pm, the accused person called the pupil to his classroom and ordered her to pack his bread in a plastic bag inside the storeroom.
It is alleged that the complainant complied and notified the teacher that she had packed the bread.
The teacher is said to have then told complainant that she had not packed the bread well and ordered her back into the storeroom.
It is alleged that he then followed the juvenile into the storeroom and fondled her.
The juvenile later told her friends about the incident before alerting her parents, who proceeded to file a police report.
