BY FARAI MATIASHE
A HARARE lady teacher is in trouble for allegedly “verbally and physically” tormenting her niece — a pupil at a top government primary school in the capital.
The junior school teacher (name supplied) who stayed with her niece (name withheld) at her house, was allegedly in the habit of spanking her with bare hands, both at home and at the school.
“(She) teaches Grade 7s at the junior school. Her niece is in Grade 3 at the same school. On June 12 this year, she called the niece to her classroom and questioned her why her homework book was not signed. She then started beating her and went to the extent of stripping her in front of our kids and beat her at her back, butt and elbow with a cooking stick until it got broken. She did not even stop after that as she looked for another stick and continued,” a concerned parent, who preferred to speak on condition of anonymity, said.
“She abused her niece, both physically and verbally. At one point, she used to call her names like witch. I feel sorry for this young girl because she is going through a lot. She has been traumatised for some time.”
The concerned parent said the child disclosed that even at home, her aunt and her daughter abuse her, adding she was coming to school without a jersey in winter. She told schoolmates that her aunt socks it in water so that she does not wear it.
It is alleged that Highlands Police Station victim friendly unit officers, upon receiving a tip-off through their suggestion box, summoned the lady teacher for questioning at the station.
She was dragged to the Rotten Row Magistrates’ Courts last weekend and the Department of Social Welfare was yet to provide a report on the abuse.
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The pupil is now in the custody of another relative.
The medical report, which will be used by the court, showed the pupil was injured on her elbow.
The school’s headmistress yesterday declined to comment on the matter.
“I am not authorised to speak to the media. I cannot speak to you right now,” she said.
The concerned teacher refused to comment last night.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi referred questions to Harare provincial spokesperson Inspector Tarisai Dube, who asked NewsDay Weekender to check with her on Monday as the records office had already closed for the weekend.
