BULAWAYO – In a move that underscores the government’s uncompromising stance on the protection of learners, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has officially dismissed Tyson Lunga, a former teacher at the once-prestigious Milton High School – Bulawayo’s first boys-only school. The dismissal comes despite Lunga’s recent acquittal by the courts on multiple counts of sodomy, a development that has reignited intense debate over the safety of children within the country’s boarding institutions.
Lunga, a 37-year-old who once commanded respect as a pastor at a local Pentecostal church and a dedicated volunteer with the Scripture Union, found his career in ruins after allegations of “improper association with learners” were upheld by a ministerial disciplinary committee. The teacher had been on suspension since May last year, following a series of harrowing reports from students at the all-boys school in Bulawayo.
The Bulawayo Provincial Education Director, Mr Bernard Mazambane, confirmed the sacking this week, making it clear that the Ministry’s internal standards of conduct are distinct from the criminal justice system’s requirements for conviction.
“The teacher concerned has been relieved of his duties. We do not rely on what happens at the courts. As a Ministry, we have our own ways of handling such matters, mainly guided by what learners say,” Mr Mazambane stated firmly.
The case against Lunga first broke into the public eye in June last year when he was arrested on a Saturday. At the time, he was responsible for looking after students at the school’s hostel, a position of significant trust. It was alleged that he had indecently assaulted at least nine students on different occasions. The matter only came to light after the Learner Welfare Department from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education conducted a series of sensitive interviews with the boys.
Recalling the initial investigation, Mr Mazambane previously noted the difficulty in getting the young victims to speak out. “What we did was to task the learner welfare department psychologist, so they have their ways of getting information out. They interviewed the kids, some of them were shy about it but the rest exposed what was happening in the school. The kids opened up on what was happening on the ground. So far the confirmed cases are nine,” he said at the time.
Court documents from the subsequent trial painted a disturbing picture of how the alleged abuse was carried out. It was claimed that Lunga used his position and resources to entice the complainants, offering them cash, food, and other items to gain their compliance. The arrest was eventually facilitated by the bravery of the students themselves, who, with the assistance of another staff member, reported the incidents to the police.
However, the legal proceedings took a turn in August last year when Bulawayo magistrate Ms Beverly Madzikatire acquitted Lunga. In her ruling, the magistrate stated that the case lacked “clear-cut evidence” and that the allegations could not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. While the acquittal provided Lunga with a legal reprieve, it did not satisfy the Ministry’s disciplinary committee, which proceeded with its own hearing on 22 September.
The dismissal of Lunga has also brought his professional history under closer scrutiny. It has been revealed that before his tenure at Milton High, Lunga had been transferred from Magwegwe High School under circumstances that remain unclear. This detail has raised questions about the vetting processes used when transferring staff between schools, especially those with a history of disciplinary concerns.
This incident at Milton High is not an isolated case but part of a broader, more troubling pattern of sexual abuse allegations surfacing in Zimbabwean schools. Just months before Lunga’s arrest, a similar scandal emerged at Masase High School in Mberengwa. In that instance, a deputy headmaster was accused of sodomising more than 35 pupils. The scale of the allegations at Masase was staggering, with reports suggesting the abuse spanned from 2024 until March 2025. That teacher remains on the run, leaving a trail of trauma and unanswered questions in the Midlands province.
The Catholic community has also been rocked by similar allegations. St Ignatius College in Chishawasha, a Jesuit institution with a 62-year legacy of academic excellence, became embroiled in a scandal involving claims of sodomy and sexual abuse in late 2024. The allegations at St Ignatius were particularly damaging as they included claims of cover-ups dating back as far as the 1970s. The owners of the college were forced to open a comprehensive investigation to address the decades-old grievances.
The prevalence of these cases has prompted the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to launch wider investigations into several other prominent boys’ schools, particularly in the capital. Senior officials within the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education have acknowledged that the issue of sodomy in schools is a growing concern that requires a multi-faceted response.
For many parents, the dismissal of Tyson Lunga, despite his court acquittal, is seen as a necessary step in restoring confidence in the school system. The Ministry’s decision to prioritise the testimony of the learners over the technicalities of a court ruling reflects a shift towards a more victim-centred approach in handling disciplinary matters.
Lunga’s background as a pastor and a figure in the Scripture Union has added a layer of betrayal for those who saw him as a moral guide for the youth. The Pentecostal church where he served has remained largely silent on the matter, but the impact on his former congregation and the students he mentored is profound.
As the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education continues to navigate these challenging waters, the message being sent is clear: the safety of the child is paramount. The dismissal of Lunga serves as a warning to other educators that the government will not hesitate to act, even when the courts fail to provide a conviction.
The investigation into the broader culture of abuse in boarding schools continues, with calls for more robust monitoring systems and better psychological support for victims. For the boys at Milton High School, the departure of Lunga marks the end of a dark chapter, but the process of healing and rebuilding trust in their educators is likely to take much longer.
In the meantime, the hunt for other perpetrators, like the fugitive deputy head from Masase High, remains a priority for the police. The government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that schools remain a safe haven for learning, free from the shadow of exploitation and abuse. The case of Tyson Lunga may be closed in the eyes of the Ministry, but the conversation it has sparked about the protection of our children is only just beginning.
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