The Sunday News
Mncedisi Buhali Sunday News Reporters
IN a spine-chilling incident which happened on Friday the 13th, a 16-year-old Eveline High School pupil was reportedly drugged and raped by suspected commuter omnibus drivers who later dumped her in Lobengula West.
After being dumped at around 5pm, the girl attracted scores of people from nearby suburbs who were left in shock after she narrated what had transpired.
A witness, Mr Takudzwa Marimba, said he saw scores of people at the scene with some taking turns to take pictures of the girl lying down helplessly in her casual clothes. The girl is said to have been coming from inter-house school competitions.
“We just found the girl dumped by the roadside with blood stains on her thighs. She was pale and her eyes clearly showed she had been drugged. The girl was also taking time to speak as she was tired. People poured water on her as they thought she was drunk but she did not smell of smell,” said Mr Marimba.
“The girl said some people dragged her into a blue kombi and took her to Richmond where she was drugged and three men who were in the car took turns to rape her. She gave us her home address and some people had to go and call her parents who came with the police.”
Another witness, who is a local teacher from nearby Nkanyezi Primary School, said she saw the girl on her way home from work.
“I was just coming from school at around 5pm and what I saw was very devastating. How can men do such a ruthless thing to such a young girl? The police must do something and ensure that perpetrators are brought to book,” said the witness.
Although Eveline headmistress, a Mrs S Moyo, refused to talk to our reporters, a student at the school said a number of girls were in relationships with commuter omnibus drivers who also attend school events.
Our news crew visited the girl’s home where they met her father and grandmother who confirmed the incident but refused to shed more light on the issue.
“What you are talking about happened but it’s history and we do not want it to be publicised,” said the girl’s father before telling reporters to leave his house.
This development came at a time when there are more than 5 000 children who are being raped every year in the country with figures also showing that close to 250 children are being sexually abused each month.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said police were still investigating the case.
“I can confirm that a child was sexually abused and we are still investigating the case,” he said.
