By A Correspondent| ZANU PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa has appointed a sugar daddy, Cain Mathema the new Minister Of Primary And Secondary Education.

Mathema has an appetite for young girls and was exposed for dating his maid while married to his wife of more than 30 years, and that was discovered later on a date when she had turned 20. He soon dumped her for a 23 year old student, the latter who he then conducted a marriage ceremony with. 

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The announcement was made on Friday, a day after a ZimEye article criticised Mnangagwa of failing to reshuffle his ministers 15 months after the disputed 2018 elections.

Commenting on the development, former Education Minister David Coltart said, “Putting Cain Mathema in charge of education is simply appalling.”

Mathema (76) in 2016 married a 23 year old girlfriend in a posh English wedding that sent tounges wagging. Mathema wedded his youthful wife Bathabetsoe Nare at a colourful wedding in Bulawayo. Nare, a former Midlands State University student graduated in November this year. Mathema could be seen in the video dancing in a jovial mood with his wife. News24 reports that Mathema left his first wife for a house maid, whom he married customarily in 2009. The maid was only 20-years-old at the time. He later left her for Nare after her met her while she was on attachment at a government complex in Bulawayo in 2014.

ANALYSIS:

One wing of opinion says the young lady entered the relationship willingly. This is more so because she was 23 at the time of marriage. But how old was she when the dating began? There also seems to be a pattern. Before her, Cain Mathema had been dating his own maid which relationship was only discovered after she had turned 20. Evidence shows there is a strong possibility she was below the age of 16 when the relationship started. There seems to be a pattern of targeting young girls.

There are thus serious legal concerns. Mathema’s case of being a “likely” danger to minors falls under The Child Protection Act, PART III, regarding safeguarding.

The Act puts the burden of incrimination against a parent on the basis of a mere “likely,” meaning a parent must exercise due care even on the basis of a mere fear. This is so especially if there are reasonable grounds for that apprehension.

A copy of the Act’ index reads as below:

PART III PREVENTION OF NEGLECT, ILL-TREATMENT AND EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS

7. Ill-treatment or neglect of children and young persons.

8. Corruption of children and young persons.

9. Medical examination and treatment of children and young persons.

10. Begging and public entertainment. 10A. Restriction on employment of children and young persons.

11. Safeguarding of child audiences at public entertainments.

12. Power to bind over person having custody of young girl, child or young person to exercise proper care.

Meanwhile, the full list of appointments is below –