A private school in Chinhoyi has expelled its vice headboy after allegations emerged that he sexually abused younger pupils, triggering investigations by both the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and education authorities.
The Form Four learner is alleged to have targeted several students from Forms One and Two. The accusations have shocked the school community, with both parents and learners expressing concern over the reported incidents.
Some students described the allegations as disturbing, noting that it was unexpected for a learner holding a leadership position to be linked to such claims. Others said younger pupils can sometimes struggle to identify manipulation or grooming by older students.
Parents have also raised concerns, saying the incident has caused distress among families and highlighted the need for stronger child protection systems within schools. They called on learning institutions to strengthen safeguarding measures, improve supervision and create safe reporting channels for learners.
The school principal, identified only as Mr Nkomo, confirmed that the learner was expelled after the allegations came to light. He said the school carried out its own inquiry before reporting the matter to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the police.
“We followed all the necessary procedures and have been transparent throughout the process,” Mr Nkomo said.
He added that parents of the alleged victims were informed and invited to the school for discussions, while ZRP officers also interviewed them as part of ongoing investigations.
Mr Nkomo said counselling services had since been arranged for affected learners, with support from professional counsellors and church leaders to help students deal with the emotional impact of the incident.
He further stated that the decision to remove the accused learner was taken to protect other pupils, adding that students had been advised to avoid isolated areas and remain vigilant against anyone attempting to lure them away from public spaces.
