The Sunday News
Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
A GWANDA teacher who fondled his colleague’s buttocks and also threatened to stab her to death has been sentenced to six months imprisonment. Opiam Mafu (53), a senior teacher at Sinkukwe Primary School had pleaded not guilty to charges of indecently assaulting and assaulting a junior teacher at the same school when he appeared before magistrate Ms Sheila Nazombe.
In denying the charges, Mafu said he was drunk when he committed the offences.
He was, however, convicted due to overwhelming evidence and sentenced to six months imprisonment for indecent assault of which two months were suspended for five years on condition he does not within that period commit a similar offence.
The remaining four months were suspended on condition that he performs 140 hours of community service at VID Gwanda.
For the second count of assaulting the female teacher who cannot be named to protect her identity, Mafu was fined $100 or 30 days imprisonment.
In passing the sentence, Ms Nazombe said she had taken into account that Mafu was a mature first offender who is a family man.
The magistrate also considered that the complainant did not sustain any visible injuries.
“What aggravates this offence is that you are a senior teacher who committed the offence on a fellow temporary teacher. The offences were committed in the workplace. You did not respect your colleagues,” said Ms Nazombe.
She said Mafu took a long time committing the offence as he started by fondling his colleague’s buttocks, went on to pull her by her collar, dragged her and later threatened her with a knife.
“You did this up to the point when the complainant had to ask for forgiveness but you continued,” Ms Nazombe said.
Prosecuting, Ms Teererai Mahohoma said on 26 July this year at around 7pm, the complainant was at the school kitchen sitting on a chair while other teachers were cooking.
Mafu arrived, sat beside the complainant and started fondling her buttocks. The complainant told Mafu to stop his actions but he continued forcing her to stand up but he grabbed her by the waist.
The complainant walked away but Mafu followed her and started insulting her.
“The accused then grabbed the complainant’s hair and pulled her. The complainant escaped and ran away but the accused chased and caught up with her. The accused held complainant by the collar, dragged her to the kitchen and pulled her to the ground. While lying down, accused then pointed an okapi knife to the complainant threatening to kill her,” said the prosecutor.
On seeing the female teacher crying for forgiveness, other teachers pleaded with Mafu to release her and stop what he was doing.
The matter was reported to the police leading to Mafu’s arrest.
