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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter

A SECONDARY school deputy headmistress who allegedly forced a Form One girl to undress in the presence of other teachers in Hwange has appeared in court.

Possenta Kwidini (50) was charged with seriously impairing the dignity of another person, which constitutes a criminal insult.

Kwidini allegedly forced the schoolgirl to undress as punishment for walking around with her skirt unzipped. The 15-year-old girl cannot be named for ethical reasons.

Kwidini, who is being represented by Mr Elvis Mashindi, was not asked to plead to the charge when she appeared before Hwange magistrate Mr Gift Dube.

This was after the defence applied for exception of the case but the application was dismissed.

Mr Mashindi indicated their intention to appeal to the High Court for review of the magistrate’s ruling. No remand date was given.

Prosecuting, Mr Trymore Chitumbu said Kwidini forced the girl to undress in the presence of two other female teachers Ms Chipo Mahlangu and Ms Mazvita Muteme in September this year.

“On a date not known to the prosecutor but in September at around midday, the accused was sitting in the Textiles Technology and Design room in the company of two other female teachers when she saw the complainant tucking her school uniform shirt behind the classroom and called her. 

“The accused asked the girl why she was moving around with her skirt zip open and the girl told her that she was tucking in her shirt,” read the State papers.

The court was told that Kwidini told the girl that it was improper for a girl to dress in public. She allegedly ordered the girl, in Nambya, to unzip her skirt saying “zhula chiketi chucho” (unzip that skirt).The girl complied and the accused allegedly ordered her to let the skirt drop down while threatening to assault her.

Out of fear the girl complied and she was left wearing her shirt and pant only.

Kwidini allegedly later ordered her to dress up and go to her classroom where she was consoled by her classmates who had witnessed the incident from afar. The girl was crying when she arrived at her classroom, the court heard. A report was made to the police leading to Kwidini’s arrest. — @ncubeleon