The Manica Post

Headmaster rapes mentally ill pupil

- Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspond­ent

A SHAMELESS Rusape headmaster who raped a 15-year-old mentally -challenged school pupil before expelling her from the school for revealing the abuse was this week jailed 15 years.

Evans Gotora (28) who doubles as a teacher and a headmaster of Arise Private College will, however, serve 12 years behind bars after Rusape regional magistrate, Mr Livingston­e Chipadza, suspended three years on condition of good behaviour.

Gotora of House Number 2476, Mabvazuva who was represente­d by Rusape lawyer, Mr Maxwell Chiwanza of Chiwanza and Associates had pleaded not guilty to the charge, saying he learnt of the case from other pupils that the girl was moving around claiming that they had slept together.

In her evidence in court, the girl said Gotora carried her on his bicycle carrier to his home and raped her on two different occasions before threatenin­g to kill her or expel her from the school if she divulged the rape to anyone.

The girl also added that after the abuse by Gotora, other school boys whom she named also abused her, telling her that if the headmaster had abused her, what would stop them.

Rusape District prosecutor, Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira, told the court that Gotora expelled the Form One girl from school after she revealed the rape to her friend leading to the spreading of informatio­n at the school.

“Gotora was the complainan­t’s teacher and headmaster at Arise Private College. Complainan­t is mentally retarded.

“On a date unknown to the State, but during the period extending from January 20, 2017 to May 31, the complainan­t was playing alone outside the classroom while other children were attending lessons.

He added: “The complainan­t revealed the incident to a friend the following day, who did nothing, but spread the news. In June, Gotora expelled the complainan­t from the school. On July 1, the complainan­t revealed the matter to a female relative who then informed the complainan­t’s mother and a police report was made.”

Meanwhile, in our last story it was reported that the school belonged to End Time Messages Church, but the church has since distanced itself from the institutio­n.

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