Head fondles grade 5 pupils for coming late

A 60-YEAR-OLD headmaster from Singeni Primary School in Nkayi District allegedly fondled two female Grade Five pupils’ private parts while searching their pockets for wild fruits after they came late for assembly.

The headmaster, Charles Ndlovu (60), has been arrested and on Thursday he was arraigned before Nkayi magistrate Mr Temba Chimiso facing charges of indecent assault. He was remanded out of custody to Tuesday this week on $200 bail for sentencing.

The State’s case as presented by the prosecutor, Mr Lister Hove was that the two girls were late for assembly and when they arrived they were summoned by the headmaster. It was the State’s case that when the headmaster asked the pupils where they had been, they told him that they were fetching wild fruits ( ubhunzu).

The court was further told that the headmaster started searching the two girls’ pockets and in the process fondled their private parts. The pupils, the court heard, reported the matter to one of their teachers who then made a report to the police leading to the arrest of Ndlovu.

Meanwhile, Matabeleland North deputy provincial education director Mrs Beatrice Manjere confirmed receiving a report of the indecent assault and said they were carrying out their own investigations.

“We have received a case where the matter of indecent assault where the headmaster of Singeni Primary School is accused of having fondled two school pupils. We are still investigating the matter so that we come to ascertain the facts and come up with a position,” she said.