In the community

Alarming number of school girls drop out due to pregnancy

Published

11 months ago

September 9, 2024

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

A recent National Assembly meeting revealed a staggering statistic: 4557 school girls dropped out of school due to pregnancy in 2023 alone. The majority of these girls (3942) were from rural schools, and most were in secondary school.

Mutsa Murombedzi, MP for Mashonaland West, questioned the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Torerai Moyo, on the issue.

“The Ministry collects and collates such data on an annual basis and is recorded in our Education Management Information System (EMIS) report shared with all stakeholders. Therefore, for the year ending December, 2023, 4557 girls dropped out of school due to pregnancy, the majority of these (3 942) being from rural schools,” Minister Moyo revealed.

When asked about measures being taken to address the issue, Minister Moyo said, “We have instituted several measures to curb this problem, one of which is the introduction of Guidance and Counselling in schools. Through the Education Act, we have also ensured that the legal provisions are there to enable girls who fall pregnant to continue with their education.”

Minister Moyo also emphasized that the government is committed to ensuring that girls who fall pregnant can continue their education, citing the Education Amendment Act of 2020, which allows girls to take a two-week maternity leave and return to school.

“On the issue of stigma, we have done a lot of conscientisation and also, we have done a lot of dissemination of information in encouraging all the girls who fall pregnant. It is now their right to education, so they are supposed to go back to school,” Minister Moyo said.

When asked about the perpetrators, Minister Moyo assured the House that the law will take its course if the perpetrators are adults and the girls are under 18.

“Assuming the perpetrators are known and they are adults, the law will take its course. If there are circumstances whereby an elder or an adult male has had some relations with a girl and she becomes pregnant, if that girl is under the age of 18, the law will be applied.”

In the community

Relatives convicted of brutal assault of son-in-law over property dispute

Published

4 days ago

July 29, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The Bulawayo court has concluded the case of a 65-year-old man, Abednico Maposa, who was brutally attacked by his relatives, including his wife and three brothers-in-law, over a property dispute in Swart Village, Inyathi.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority, four accused individuals – Sikhanyiso Zulu, Isaac Sibanda, Cabangani Zulu, and Lucky Zulu – were on trial for assaulting Maposa.

The State alleged that on February 9, the accused persons attacked Maposa with stones, demanding a fridge and other belongings, and left him unconscious with head and body injuries.

In conclusion, the Tredgold Regional Court Magistrate in Bulawayo acquitted Sikhanyiso Zulu and Isaac Sibanda due to insufficient evidence.

Cabangani Zulu and Lucky Zulu were convicted and sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, with 6 months suspended and an additional 18 months suspended on condition that they complete 630 hours of community service.

Hwange

Teacher sentenced to 15 months for assaulting student with wooden stick

Published

5 days ago

July 28, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A Hwange Magistrates’ Court has convicted and sentenced a 27-year-old teacher, Shyleen Nenduva, to 15 months imprisonment for brutally assaulting a 15-year-old grade 7 student.

According to court records, on July 9, Nenduva from Gwai, struck the student several times on the back with a wooden stick, punched him once in the chest, and violently pushed him onto a desk. The assault resulted in the student sustaining a swollen and painful right elbow.

The court heard that the incident occurred after the student misbehaved outside the classroom, prompting Nenduva to caution him. However, a misunderstanding ensued, leading to the physical altercation.

In sentencing Nenduva, the court suspended 6 months of the imprisonment term for 5 years. The remaining 9 months were suspended on condition that Nenduva performs 315 hours of community service.

Hwange

Hwange driver remanded in custody for alleged beer theft

Published

5 days ago

July 28, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

A 38-year-old driver, Munyaradzi Gotora, has been remanded in custody by the Hwange Magistrates’ Court on three counts of theft involving large consignments of alcoholic beverages.

Gotora, employed at Delta Beverages’ Hwange Depot, allegedly diverted multiple loads of Chibuku Super beer destined for Binga and surrounding areas between June 25 and July 9, 2025.

According to the State, on June 26, 2025, Gotora sold 1,189 cases of beer valued at USD4,451.62 and failed to deposit the funds. He allegedly falsified delivery invoices, presenting them as credit transactions with Gain Cash and Carry, which were not signed.

Similar incidents allegedly occurred on June 30, 2025, involving 866 cases valued at USD3,242.30, and on July 5, 2025, involving 1,933 cases worth USD8,779. In the latter incident, Gotora allegedly deposited only USD2,110, converting the balance to his own use.

An investigation into the anomalies in stock records uncovered irregularities across the three transactions. Police recovered receipts at Gotora’s place of residence, linking him to the crime.

Gotora is scheduled to appear in court again on August 14. In the meantime, he will remain in custody.