Student assaulting teacher sentenced to five months in prison
By Dumisani Ndlovu
Ngoni Matendere, a Gweru teacher was last Thursday sentenced to 5 months in prison for assaulting a grade 7 student. He was convicted on his own plea of guilt.
Matendere was quick to appeal for a lighter sentence from court, saying he was mentally unstable when he committed the offence.
The 54 year old teacher at Budiriro primary school who was forty-night ago referred to undergo a mental stability testing at Hwahwa prison. This came after on his mitigation the accused told the magistrate Beaulity Dube that he was a certified mentally challenged person, which caused him to commit the crime.
In sentencing him, after being found guilty, the presiding magistrate, Dube said “Now that the accused is found guilty, is sentenced to five months in prison, two months wholly suspended for 5 years on condition that the offender do not within that period commit an offence involving bodily harm on a person of another and for which upon conviction is sent to imprisonment without the option of a fine. Two months is suspended on condition that you pay a US$250 fine. The fine should be paid on or before the 11th of April 2024. Failure of which the offender is sent to prison for a period of 2months”.
The complainant was medically examined and the Public Prosecutor, Christine Shonhiwa tendered the pupil’s medical affidavit which serves as evidence that on 4 March 2024 Matendere assaulted the child using a stick and open hands with the intention to cause pain and bodily harm.
Agreed facts are that on the mentioned date, in the morning, the school siren rang, indicating that it was assembly time. Some pupils rushed to assembly as required. It is alleged the complainant delayed going to the assembly point despite being repeatedly advised by the accused. This did not go down well with the Matendere who resorted to recklessly assaulting the child.
Agreed facts are that on the mentioned date, in the morning, the school siren rang, indicating that it was assembly time. Some pupils rushed to assembly as required. It is alleged the complainant delayed going to the assembly point despite being repeatedly advised by the accused. This did not go down well with the Matendere who resorted to recklessly assaulting the child.
