Teacher arrested for defiling three pupils

Limbe Police have arrested a 47-year-old teacher at Chisombezi Primary School in Bangwe, Blantyre on allegations of defilement, indecent assault and abuse of office.

The teacher, identified as Harry Thokozani, teaches Life Skills, Expressive Arts and English to Standard eight pupils at the school.

Limbe Police Station deputy spokesperson Pedzisai Zembeneko, speaking in a telephone interview on Tuesday, said it is alleged that the teacher defiled three of his pupils aged 14, 15 and 16 respectively.

Zembeneko said while it has been reported that two of the girls were defiled once each, one of the girls alleges the teacher defiled her on six occasions.

“It was reported that he coaxed the girls by promising to make them pass their exams. For the case to come in the open, the teacher took one of the three girls to his friend’s house where he defiled her after the friend had left the house for them.

“After this happened, the girl reported to the school authorities, but after noting that time was elapsing without any tangible action being taken, police were notified and we moved in to arrest the suspect,” said Zembeneko.

Zembeneko said according to statements recorded from the girls, they were all taken to hospital for medical examination when they reported to the school authorities about the alleged defilement, but they have since not been told or given their medical examination results.

“At the moment police is trying to establish why the school authorities decided to keep such a case to themselves when it is police who is supposed to handle alleged defilement cases. n