HARARE – A once-esteemed headmaster of Allan Wilson Boys’ High School, Tafara Zhou, is now facing a dramatic fall from grace as he stands accused of aggravated indecent assault. The allegations involve a former Form 3 boarder, now 19, who claims Zhou subjected him to repeated acts of non-consensual anal sex between June 2022 and May 2024. The alleged abuse took place both at the school hostel and, disturbingly, in the headmaster’s own car.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) has confirmed that Zhou appeared in court over the weekend, although he was not asked to enter a plea. The case has prompted the Zimbabwe Republic Police to launch a wider investigation into multiple allegations of sexual abuse at several boys’ schools across Harare, raising serious concerns about the safety and well-being of students in the country’s education system.
According to the NPAZ, the complainant reported the alleged abuse in March 2025, after being expelled from Allan Wilson for seeking assistance with his exam registration fees – a cruel twist that highlights the vulnerability of the victim and the alleged abuse of power by Zhou.
The State’s case paints a grim picture of manipulation and coercion. It is alleged that Zhou initially offered the boy “spiritual help,” but this quickly devolved into a pattern of abuse, threats, and intimidation. Zhou is accused of using the threat of expulsion to silence the teenager, and even allegedly deleting incriminating evidence from the boy’s mobile phone in an attempt to cover his tracks.
The allegations are that in 2022, the complainant, who is now 19 years old, approached several high schools in Harare looking for a scholarship. He then went to Allan Wilson Boys’ High School, where he met Zhou and told him he was looking for a Form 3 place. Zhou offered to cater to the boy’s needs.
The court heard that in June 2022, Zhou allegedly called the boy to his car and told him that he wanted to have a sexual relationship with him since he was catering to all his expenses. Zhou allegedly threatened to expel the boy from school if he refused.
The state claimed that, feeling cornered, the boy yielded to the request, and Zhou allegedly sexually abused him. The boy returned to his hostel but did not tell anyone about the incident, fearful of the consequences.
The alleged abuse continued over a prolonged period. In January 2023, Zhou allegedly took the boy to the laundry room and sexually abused him again. In February 2023, Zhou took the minor to his house and abused him for the third time.
The following morning, there was a school trip to Victoria Falls. While other students boarded the bus, Zhou allegedly took the boy in his car. In Victoria Falls, he booked a room and sexually abused the boy for three days.
Zhou allegedly sexually abused the boy again on their way back to Harare. He then took the boy’s phone and deleted all his messages and pictures. He threatened the boy and told him that he was well-connected and no one would believe his story if he ever thought of reporting the abuse.
The state further alleges that when the complainant wanted to register for his exams, he asked Zhou for the money, but the accused person refused to give it to him. The boy was then assisted by his teachers to register, and this reportedly did not go down well with Zhou, who expelled the complainant from the school – a move that ultimately led to the exposure of the alleged abuse.
Following the release of his exam results this year, the boy, with the assistance of a teacher, filed a police report, leading to Zhou’s arrest.
The case against Zhou has prompted a wider investigation into allegations of sexual abuse at other schools in Harare.
Police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi told NewsDayLive that police had received reports about sexual abuse at Allan Wilson and Prince Edward high schools as well as Blakiston Junior School.
“Reference is made to your telephone call on alleged sodomy cases at Allan Wilson, Blakiston and Prince Edward schools,” Nyathi said.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that reports have been received from the schools and investigations are in progress.
“Most of the reports allege criminal acts by fellow students, except one against a school headmaster.”
Commissioner Nyathi’s statement confirms that the investigations are not limited to Allan Wilson, but extend to other institutions, suggesting a potentially wider problem within the education sector.
The Ministry of Education is under increasing pressure to address the issue and implement measures to safeguard students and ensure that those found guilty of abuse are brought to justice.
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