By Costa Nkomo
CONTROVERSY has engulfed Masase High School in Mberengwa district, as Deputy Headmaster Anymore Gumbo is on the run after allegedly sexually molesting over 30 pupils at the iconic boarding school, NewZimbabwe.com can reveal.
Taungana Ndoro, Director of Communications for the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, confirmed the incident.
“We are aware of the incident and investigations are in progress,” he said.
Gumbo allegedly carried out his depraved acts on numerous occasions on different pupils over a period of time, until he recently injured a Form Two student.
The victim, reportedly experiencing severe discomfort, cried out, alerting fellow pupils and shattering the wall of silence that had concealed Gumbo’s alleged abuse. This marked the beginning of Gumbo’s downfall as his web of deceit began to unravel.
Gumbo reportedly fled the school premises last Friday night as law enforcement agents came to investigate the matter and question him.
The scandal came to light after one of the pupils required medical attention following an alleged assault by Gumbo. This medical intervention, like Pandora’s Box, unleashed a torrent of accusations.
In a letter addressed to parents and guardians Wednesday, headmaster Albion Masukume confirmed that investigations are underway, involving both the police and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education.
“I write with deep sorrow to inform you that allegations of child abuse by one of our staff members was reported,” he said.
“Currently thorough investigations by Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and the police are underway. The alleged victim was taken to hospital swiftly and was examined by a medical doctor.
“A police report was filed with the Victim Friendly Unit at Mberengwa Charge Office the same day. Meanwhile the alleged perpetrator is not at the station and being sought after for interrogation so that he responds to the allegations,” reads part of the letter dated April 3, 2025.
While Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko would neither confirm nor deny the incident to NewZimbabwe.com. He was quoted in a State-run newspaper confirming the incident.
However, when contacted by this publication, Mahoko denied ever speaking to any journalist concerning the matter.
Tafanana Zhou, legislator for Mberengwa North, which encompasses Masase High School, confirmed the assaults but refrained from speculating on the number of victims.
“We need to wait for investigations to complete so that we will be able to establish the number of learners that were involved in this incident. We should not speculate.”
Obert Masaraure, President of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ), condemned the alleged abuse, urging the school to bolster its safeguarding procedures.
“The molestation of children at a learning institution is extremely worrisome,” he said.
“Schools should be safe for both teachers and learners. ARTUZ has proposed safe schools’ regulations and if these had been adopted such incidents would have been avoided.”
In Zimbabwe, engaging in sexual acts with a minor under 18, including sodomy, is illegal under Section 73 (3) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 and carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years.