A 50-year-old ECD teacher, Martha Karonda Rice, has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide following the drowning of a three-year-old pupil at St Anne’s Primary School in Harare. The incident occurred on June 3, 2025, when Rice allegedly left seven ECD pupils unsupervised, including the victim, Elroy Tinayeishe Mutandiro.
According to the State, Rice left the children unattended while she walked to the main school building, failing to secure the gate leading to the swimming pool. During this brief absence, the toddler allegedly wandered into the pool area and fell into the water, resulting in his death.
The prosecution argues that Rice’s conduct constituted gross negligence, directly contributing to the tragic death. As the sole supervisor assigned to care for the group of seven children, Rice’s failure to ensure their safety has sparked outrage.
Rice appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on June 5, 2025, and was denied bail. She is expected to return to court soon as the matter proceeds through the legal system.
The incident raises questions about the safety measures in place at the school and the level of training provided to ECD teachers. Could this tragedy have been prevented with proper supervision and safety protocols? The court will ultimately decide.
Elroy’s family is said to be devastated, and the full details of the funeral arrangements have not yet been made public. As the legal process unfolds, the community demands answers about the circumstances surrounding this tragic event
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