The Sunday News
Mollet Ndebele, Sunday News Reporter
A BULAWAYO family is living in fear after their daughter was recently attacked by a group of people who appeared to be state police, who were reportedly demanding the whereabouts of her aunt.
The victim identified as Nothando alleged survived a kidnapping attempt along Scoan Drive in Killarney suburb of Bulawayo with eyewitness claiming they overheard the assailants demanding to know the whereabouts of her aunt identified as Zandile.
According to a resident, identified as Mrs Alice Nyathi who witnessed the attempted kidnapping the assailants tried to drag Nothando into their vehicle while demanding to know the whereabouts of her aunt.
“I was about to leave my house when I heard a scuffle just outside my house, I then realized there were some men trying to grab Nothando and throw her in to their car, I feared going outside the house because the assailants seemed to be violent and were attacking her with baton sticks and knives, kicking and punching while she also fought back.
“During this ruckus they also stabbed her but she kept on fighting and resisting going inside the car,” said the neighbour who was frightened about the behaviour of the assailants who kept on shouting in Shona language saying arikupi aunti vako Zandile (where is your aunt Zandile)
“As residents we know Zandile as she used to stay here and rumours have been circulating that she was raped by a top cop, however it has been long since we last saw her. There were also suspicions that she was a lesbian subsequently she was no longer accepted in the community because of fears that she could influence other children which is when she disappeared and we don’t know her whereabouts,” said the neighbour.
The neighbour further revealed that the attackers only gave up when they noticed another vehicle turning to road and that some neighbours heard Nothando screaming.
“When they realized that they have been spotted they attempted to drive off but unfortunately their car crushed at a nearby durawall and they then escaped on foot,” said the neighbour.
This publication tried to interview Nothando’s relatives who refused to give more details but only saying;
“Honestly we are tired of this we have been harassed enough by police who come here anytime and do as they please.”
Contacted for comment a traumatized Nothando in recalling the day of the attack said it was a scary experience which is constantly haunting her.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube declined to comment.
Sources close to the investigations however revealed that it has been discovered that the crashed vehicle had been earlier impounded by police hence they were now trying to find out who had checked it out.
