BULAWAYO – Prosecutors in Plumtree have charged a police officer with 21 counts of aggravated sexual assault after he allegedly fondled and inserted his fingers in the privates of school girls.
Constable Peter Muzulu of Mphoengs Police on the western border with Botswana had been called to Bulu Primary School to investigate an anonymous tip of sexual abuse of children.
A Plumtree magistrate on Monday heard how Muzulu arrived at the school to begin the investigation. An interview room was set up, but Muzulu turned away requests by a teacher trained in child protection to be present during the interviews, said prosecutor Rosemary Mbeure.
Muzulu, according to Mbeure, would summon the pupils individually and ask them questions behind a closed door.
“He would ask them a series of questions on whether they had a relationship with a pupil or with any other individual. He would then call them to come and stand next to him,” the prosecutor said.
“Accused would unbutton the pupils’ uniforms and fondle their breasts. He would undress them and insert his fingers into their vaginas.”
The pupils reported the alleged abuse to their class teacher who then made a report to the police, the court heard.
Magistrate Nkosinomusa Ncube remanded Muzulu in custody to April 15. He was not asked to plead.
