Gweru headmaster’s assault lands two students in hospital.

A Gweru based headmaster has been arrested for severely assaulting two students on their private parts. Jabulani Sibanda who is aged 51 will face the full wrath of the law after he tried to reprimand two students for being involved in love affairs with some girls at the school. He is the headmaster of Lower Gweru mission school.

It is alleged that Sibanda decided to teach the two boys aged 16 and 17 a lesson and he started to assault them on their private parts. Both students are admitted at a private hospital in Gweru. One of the students is in critical condition and has difficulties passing out urine. Doctors had to insert a tube to assist him to pass urine. The other student is also gravely ill and is alleged to have dislocated his spinal cord as he was trying to resist the beating.

The incident is very disturbing considering that corporal punishment was outlawed in Zimbabwe. The story is clear evidence of violations of children’s rights in schools. Most people have been lambasting the headmaster for his untoward behaviour and have been calling for a stiff penalty should he be convicted.

School authorities are perceived to be the guardians of young students when parents leave them in their care. It is in incidents like these that such trust is broken. Although there have been efforts to reduce physical abuse of students by outlawing corporal punishment, enforceability of the law is still a big issue.