​By Everisto Zhuwao

​A 47-year-old primary school teacher from Chinhoyi has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for indecently assaulting three female pupils.

​The Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court convicted the offender this week following harrowing reports from the victims. The incidents occurred during March 2026 at a local primary school where the man was employed.

​According to court records, the teacher targeted Grade 5 students aged between 10 and 11 years. In one instance, he ordered a 10-year-old girl to deliver books to his house. While there, he kissed her and caressed her neck.

​On a separate occasion within the classroom, the teacher untucked the shirt of an 11-year-old pupil. He proceeded to caress her back while making lewd remarks and exposing himself. The third count involved the teacher showing porn@graphic material on his cellphone to another 11-year-old student during lesson time.

​The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) condemned the teacher’s actions in a statement following the sentencing.

​”A teacher is a person entrusted with the safety and moral guidance of children; the offender grossly violated this sacred duty,” the NPAZ stated
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​The court sentenced the man to 24 months of imprisonment. However, he will serve an effective 12 months behind bars.

​The matter came to light after the brave pupils reported their experiences, leading to the teacher’s immediate arrest and prosecution.

The conviction highlights ongoing efforts to combat gender-based violence and protect children within the education system.

A 24-year-old Glenview woman, Bridget Jengwa, has swapped her home in Churu Farm for a prison cell after a neighbourhood dispute ended with a literal bite.

The Mbare Magistrates’ Court sentenced her to 12 months in prison this week after convicting her of a violent assault that left her 21-year-old neighbour missing a portion of her right ear.

The drama unfolded on April 20, 2026, when Jengwa confronted the victim at her residence. She arrived with a serious accusation, claiming the neighbour was having an extramarital affair with her husband.

While most people bring words to a confrontation, Jengwa brought a level of fury that even a mediator could not calm. Despite the victim’s mother attempting to play peacemaker, Jengwa’s rage escalated from shouting to physical assault.

In a move better suited for a horror movie than a residential street, Jengwa dragged the younger woman and bit off a piece of her ear.

She then dropped the severed tissue on the floor and fled the scene with her child, leaving the victim bleeding heavily and permanently disfigured. It seems Jengwa took the phrase “giving someone an earful” far too literally.

The court did not find this “Mike Tyson” approach to conflict resolution amusing. Of the 12-month sentence, three months were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, leaving her with an effective nine-month jail term to reflect on her actions behind bars.

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) used the case to remind the public that violence is never the answer. While Jengwa may have intended to leave a lasting impression on her neighbour, she instead left a permanent mark on her own criminal record.

The victim is now living with a life-changing injury, while Jengwa has ample time to learn that in Glenview, neighbours should keep their teeth to themselves.

Bellarmine Mugabe and his co-accused Tobias Matonhodze are expected to be sentenced on Wednesday at the Alexandra Regional Court, bringing a high-profile criminal case to a critical conclusion.

The pair entered into a plea agreement with the state earlier this month after spending several weeks in custody.

Mugabe pleaded guilty to charges of being illegally in South Africa and pointing a firearm, the latter relating to a separate incident that occurred two weeks prior to the Hyde Park shooting.

Matonhodze, meanwhile, admitted guilt on multiple charges, including attempted murder, contravening the Immigration Act, defeating the ends of justice, and possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

These charges stem from a February shooting at Mugabe’s residence in Hyde Park, an affluent Johannesburg suburb.

During sentencing proceedings last week, the court heard that the victim, Sipho Mahlangu—a security guard injured in the incident—will receive a total compensation of R400,000.

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Mahlangu has already been paid R250,000, with an outstanding R150,000 still due.

Investigating Officer Craig Raj testified in aggravation of sentence, emphasizing the seriousness of the offenses. Raj urged the court to impose a harsh sentence, noting that both accused have failed to disclose the whereabouts of the firearm used in the shooting.

The case has drawn attention due to its combination of violent crime and immigration-related offenses.

Legal experts say the outcome could set a precedent for how plea agreements involving multiple serious charges are handled in South African courts.

The court is expected to weigh several factors, including the guilty pleas, time already served, compensation paid to the victim, and the accused’s lack of cooperation regarding the missing weapon.

With arguments concluded, Mugabe and Matonhodze will learn their fate on Wednesday, as the court delivers its final judgment.