Bulawayo Pastor Fired From Teaching Job Despite Being Found Not Guilty In Student Abuse Case

Pastor Loses Teaching Job After Being Found Not Guilty

A secondary school teacher, who is also a pastor, has been fired from his post after a ministry disciplinary hearing, despite being cleared of all criminal charges in a student abuse case. Tyson Lunga, a 37-year-old teacher at Milton High School in Bulawayo and a Pentecostal church pastor, was fired by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education following internal proceedings.

The ministry confirmed the dismissal, stating its internal processes are separate from court outcomes. This decision comes months after a Bulawayo magistrate acquitted Lunga of all criminal charges, citing a lack of evidence and merit in the allegations.

Ministry Upholds Dismissal Despite Court Verdict

Bulawayo Provincial Education Director, Bernard Mazambane, confirmed the termination of Lunga’s employment. He emphasised that the ministry’s own regulations and procedures take precedence over criminal court findings.

Bernard Mazambane told The Chronicle:

“The teacher concerned has been relieved of his duties. As a ministry, we do not rely solely on court outcomes. We have our own internal processes guided mainly by what learners say.”

Lunga had been suspended since May 2025. He appeared before the ministry’s disciplinary committee on 22 September 2025, facing charges of improper association with learners. The allegations, which first surfaced in June 2025, included claims of sodomy and indecent assault against several Form Two students, with accusations that he offered cash, food like burgers, and other items to secure silence.

Court Acquittal Cited Lack Of Evidence And Timely Reporting

In stark contrast to the ministry’s findings, the criminal case against Lunga collapsed in the Bulawayo Magistrates’ Court. On 28 August 2025, Magistrate Beverly Madzikatire acquitted him of six counts of improper conduct with young persons. The magistrate ruled the state’s case lacked merit, noting critical inconsistencies and a failure to provide evidence.

In her verdict, Magistrate Beverly Madzikatire said: “The complainants in counts one and two gave evidence that materially differed from that of the person they allegedly told about the offence.” She further questioned the plausibility of one incident, noting, “On all counts, no report was made timeously and voluntarily. The students only reported after being questioned by teachers.”

Lunga’s defence lawyer, Constance Mathaba of Makiya and Partners, argued the allegations were a fabricated conspiracy. She told the court that two other teachers instigated the claims after Lunga’s transfer to Milton High School in September 2024.

A Teacher’s Reputation Caught Between Court And Classroom

The case shows the divergent paths of criminal justice and internal employment disciplinary processes. While the court found the evidence insufficient for a criminal conviction, the ministry proceeded with its own inquiry, ultimately leading to Lunga’s dismissal.

The teacher, who was also a volunteer with the Scripture Union, remains a pastor at his local church. The ministry’s decision underscores its policy of prioritising student testimony and its internal code of conduct, even when it contradicts a legal acquittal.