Learner (14) suffers dislocated spinal cord and va...

Learner (14) suffers dislocated spinal cord and vaginal bleeding after severe beating by teacher

Corporal punishment outlawed -Newsday Zimbabwe

A teacher at Lawrencedale Primary school in Headlands, Ms Sithembile Maruma, is facing disciplinary action after she assaulted a 14-year-old pupil causing her to dislocate her spinal cord, The Manica Post reports

The 14-year-old pupil who is doing Grade Six is alleged to have been assaulted over unwritten holiday work a day after schools opened for the second term.

As a result, the pupil started bleeding from her private parts and still has trouble sitting or walking.

She was treated at Rusape General Hospital.

A medical report stated that the minor suffered a spinal dislocation after two of her spinal cord joints dislocated due to the assault.

This, according to the report, is why the child is bleeding and is having trouble walking and sitting.

Spinal dislocation is when ligaments are over-stretched or ruptured.

This forces the spine to move out of line or for vertebrae to lock over each other.

This can also cause a spinal cord injury.

The incident has torched a storm among Makoni villagers who are demanding justice for the pupil.

According to the girl’s mother, Ms Hellen Munhenga, a month after the assault, her daughter is still in pain and can only sleep on her stomach.

She accused the school headmaster, Mr Clement Nzanza, and the teacher, Ms Sithembile Maruma, of trying to sweep the issue under the carpet.

In an interview, Ms Munhenga said her daughter was pinned on a wooden chair when she was assaulted by Ms Maruma with an 18-inch hosepipe that had a stick inside.

“She assaulted my child while pinning her from the waist upwards on the chair, her own legs were in a locking position on my child’s legs. She beat her on the back until my child was having trouble standing or sitting up.

“When she got home, I asked her what was wrong as she was looking weak. All she could do was show me her bloody back. She removed her panties and she had started bleeding from her private parts as well.

“I took her to the police station to make a report but they said I should take the child to the hospital first before anything else. I had no chance to make a police report after that and I expect to make that report tomorrow morning,” she said.

Ms Munhenga said while her daughter failed to attend school for a week after the incident, she has now gone back to school, even though she is yet to fully recover.

However, Ms Munhenga said her daughter is now being victimised at school by teachers who accuse her of trying to get Ms Maruma fired.

“The teachers are victimising my child such that she is no longer enjoying school. She says they call her names and laugh at her for walking the way that she does. She cries all night in pain. Her back is in pain,” she said.

“At first, she refused that she had beat my daughter but after I threatened to deal with her spiritually, she confessed and begged for forgiveness.

“She even gave me US$20 for scans but from the way they are treating my child at school, it seems like they were not being sincere. My child is in pain and I need help,” she said.

Ms Maruma and Mr Nzanza did not answer their phones.

Manicaland’s Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba, confirmed the incident and said the teacher has already been charged by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and awaits a disciplinary hearing.

“I have been told that as of Tuesday, the child was already playing netball at school. The teacher has already been charged and she awaits a disciplinary hearing.

“If she is found guilty, she will either be made to pay a fine or some other disciplinary action, but the matter has already been brought to our attention,” he said.

Corporal punishment was outlawed in 2017 through a High Court ruling.