A 51-year-old Chipadze Primary School teacher in Bindura was this week slapped with the worst sentence for rape- 105 years imprisonment.
The teacher met “mercy” with 45 of those years suspended meaning he was effectively sentenced to a running 60 years in prison on seven counts of raping a 12-year-old girl.
Thomas Chamunorwa Paraziva (51) was convicted of seven counts of rape by Bindura regional magistrate, Mr William Billa.
Paraziva was sentenced to 15 years on each count for a total of 105 years but he will serve an effective 60 years after 10 years were suspended while 35 years will run concurrently.
According to the state represented by prosecutor, Ms Gossy Mudambo, Paraziva was the class teacher of the complainant who is in Grade 6.
The state alleges that during the period between February and May this year, Paraziva on seven occasions took advantage of the complainant who came to school early to rape her and threatening to beat her up if she refused.
On each occasion after committing the act, Paraziva would threaten to kill the complainant if she disclosed the matter to anyone.
The matter only came to light when the complainant’s mother probed her on why she was requesting to be transferred from Chipadze primary school.