METHODIST Church in Zimbabwe (MCZ) says it is unfazed by social media rumours circulating accusing a teacher at Waddilove High School in Marondera of indecent assault at the institution.
According to the letter signed by “A Concerned Parent”, the author accused the school of shielding an English Literature teacher Patrick Nyahwo from accusations of indecent assault against female learners.
Nyahwo (55) was early this year acquitted of the charges by Marondera magistrate Sharon Rakafa, who in her ruling described the matter as “work politics”.
He had been on suspension for three months pending finalisation of the court case.
“There is a possibility that the allegations could be a result of work politics. The doubt that exists works in the accused’s favour,” the court ruled.
“In casu, thus the court has decided to err on the caution and exonerate the accused on the charges. In the foregoing, the accused is found not guilty and acquitted.”
In the court, some of the learners who took to the stands revealed that they were “coached” by one of the teachers to testify against Nyahwo.
The teacher also appeared before a government disciplinary committee that also cleared him of the same allegations.
MCZ secretary for education Daniel Muzenda said they were aware of the message circulating on social media platforms and dismissed it as fake and untrue.
“We are unfazed by that, we are not giving in to demands of people who spread falsehoods. There is normalcy at our school and it is business as usual,” Muzenda said.
“Our teacher, Nyahwo, was accused of indecent assault and it is public knowledge that he was acquitted by the courts.
“Government also conducted its own investigations and he was cleared. This is the position. Whoever is behind the message circulating has his or her own motive, we are not moved by that.”
In the anonymous letter, the MCZ-run institution is accused of transferring teachers who were deemed to be against Nyahwo.
“As for the issue of transfers, it is false to say that they emanate from this issue. It is a routine thing within our organisations,” Muzenda said.
“Teachers or school heads can be transferred following necessary procedures. For example, we have a school head who was transferred five times, rotating our schools. It’s not new at all.”