PARENTS WEEP
... demand justice for sodomised children
DISRAUGHT parents of the 16 boys sodomised by a teacher at a school in Chibombo yesterday cried uncontrollably during a meeting with school management as they demanded stiff punishment against the man who abused their children.
The parents threatened to kill the teacher if he was left to roam the streets freely as a predator.
In a stormy meeting at Anchor Community School, called by management, some infuriated parents said police should not release the detained the named teacher or they would organise people to kill him.
They said could not trust to see themselves eye to eye with the 38-year-old man who police confirmed had been sodomising the children since last year.
With tears rolling down, one mother could not even bring herself to put into words her feelings but said she did not want to see the man who had abused her child, because she was ready to harm him.
Another parent suggested that the accused teacher should stay in prison for life because if he ever got released, he would organise people to kill him.
“He should not die but rot in jail,” said one parent.
Said one mother: “I do not know what I can do to him if I see him I am ready to die over what he did to my 5-year-old son,”
During the heated meeting, the parents also called for the instant dismissal of the counselling and guidance teacher a Mr Katyekele for delaying to report the case.
They charged that Mr Katyekele was irresponsible and accused him of conspiring with and the teacher who allegedly sodomised the pupils.
“I want this man to be fired today as I am going back home he should also leave this school,” one parent said.
When police showed up for the meeting, the angry parents demanded to see the teacher who was still in police detention.
And school director a Ms Mvula broke down in tears while explaining to the parents, causing some especially mothers to cry uncontrollably in a funeral like scene.
Ms Mvula who was apologetic over the conduct of the teacher said she was shocked that he had abused the pupils as he was a devoted Christian and a choir member.
“I am still shocked that he could do such a thing I can’t believe it, the man is so prayerful,” she lamented.
In an interview on Wednesday, a parent of a sodomised pupil disclosed that the teacher had a history of committing such crimes as he had ran away from Mumbwa where he had committed a similar crime.
Fifteen of the boys were on Tuesday treated and counselled at Chikobo rural Health centre in Chibombo after it was discovered they were sodomised in shocking tale of abuse.
The matter came to the fore when one of the boys told his parents what was happening at school and they reported to Landless Police.
Central Province health director Charles Msiska confirmed the suspect and two boys tested positive for hepatitis after further tests on the children.
On Tuesday, Dr Msiska said all the boys and the suspect had tested HIV negative and that the number of the abused boys had increased from 15 to 16.
Central Province Police Commissioner, Joel Njase said Police were still waiting for full medical reports before charging the suspect because the sodomised boys were still being examined by medical personnel.