Teacher rapes girl in class:

A BUHERA primary schoolteacher allegedly raped a pupil in a classroom during lunch hour.

The 44-year-old teacher, Admire Tivakudze, who is represented by Mr Leonard Chigadza of Chigadza and Associates was not asked to plead when he appeared before Rusape regional magistrate Mr Livingstone Chipadza, who adjourned the matter to today for trial.

Rusape District prosecutor Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira told the court that Tivakudze raped the 11-year-old pupil in the classroom during lunch before threatening to kill her if she ever revealed the abuse.

“Tivakudze is the class teacher of the complainant. On an unknown date, but sometime in 2015 at around 1pm, the complainant was in the classroom together with other pupils writing some work during lunch hour.

“The complainant remained in the classroom writing alone, while the other pupils went out for lunch. The accused person who was in the classroom went to where the complainant was seated and dragged her towards the door. He went behind it. While behind the door, he raped the complainant,” he said.

“When Tivakudze finished abusing the pupil he threatened to kill her if she disclosed the matter to anyone. The matter came to light following a tipoff and the complainant later revealed the case to the police leading to the arrest of the accused person,” added Mr Mutyasira.