Malawi police arrest DRC teacher for sexual harassment
Police in Mzuzu have arrested a Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) national for touching the breasts of his 14 year old student in search of a mobile phone the girl hid there.
The arrest follows street protests by girls from the privately owned Viphya Secondary School in Mzuzu on Monday demanding the arrest of 37 year old Teacher Oliver Mude of Lubumbashi in DRC.
The students boycotted classes in the morning but later resumed after Police picked Mude.
Police have since charged Mude with Indecent Assault contrary to section 137 (1) of the Penal Code. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment with hard labour.
According to Police the incident happened on Sunday evening when Mude spotted the girl (name withheld) answering a call outside the classroom during prep time.
Nyasa Times has established that school rules forbid students to have mobile phones during classes.
“When Mude asked the girl to handover the handset to him the girl run into the classroom and hid it in her brassiere. Mude did bother to call female Teachers to search the girl but conducted it in full view of other students,” Mzuzu Police Publicist Sergeant Maurice Chapola said.
Youth Activist Peter Mumba hailed the students’ conduct saying it will serve as a wakeup call for other male teachers.
“All girls who face such demeaning and embarrassing acts must take this as an example,” Mumba said.
