Teacher showed pupils pornographic material
By Mercy Bofu
A Harare school teacher has been hauled before the courts for allegedly showing pornographic material to his female form three pupils as well as asking to be intimate with them.
Tinashe Makopa (28) from Waterfalls, a Mathematics teacher at Herentials College, appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Tsatsawani Ndaba facing criminal insult charges. Makopa pleaded not guilty and was remanded out of custody on US$100 bail.
He will be back in court on December 19 for trial.
The daring teacher is facing allegations of sharing pornographic material with students and making sexual comments using vulgar language in class.
Complainants in this case are four pupils of which three of them are state witnesses. Representing the State, prosecutor Mr Desire Chidanire said that between June and November 2013, during Mathematics lessons, Makopa told one of his pupils that she had big breasts and was “ripe for sex.”
It is alleged that the teacher then pleaded to fondle the girl before he demanded her phone number but his advances were turned down.
During the same period it is alleged that Makopa told his pupils that instead of doing Mathematics he would deliver graphic descriptions about different sex styles.
On the third count, it is alleged that Makopa approached one of his pupils and told her that she had a sexy body which he wished to use demonstrating his sexual prowess.
Makopa is said to have unlawfully and intentionally impaired the dignity of one of the pupils by making sexual advances after he showed her pornographic pictures on his phone.
The matter finally came to light when three of the pupils were caught in the Harare Gardens and brought under disciplinary action by the college principal.
This is when they revealed Makopa’s weird antics. The college principal, Mr Marandure Kirash, then made a police report leading to Makopa’s arrest.
Makopa, who is represented by lawyer Mr Rungano Mahuni, is denying the allegations, arguing that he was not in good books with the college authorities who wanted him fired.
Meanwhile, Cold Comfort Herentials College principal Haward Chikwati (42) who is accused of defrauding four parents of school fees amounting to US$1 036 will be back in court next week for further trial at the Mbare magistrate’s court.
