The Sunday News
Sunday News Reporter
A PLUMTREE woman who was forced into working as a maid in Bulawayo has alleged that she was physically and sexually assaulted by unknown assailants who accused her of working with the opposition MDC.
Ms Duduzile Ncube had moved to Bulawayo as a means of supporting her daughter- Zinzile Annette Nkomo- and also get funds to educate herself.
Duduzile Ncube and daughter Zinzile Annette Nkomo
However, her move was not as rosy as she had initially anticipated as she got to work for a family that was actively involved in MDC Alliance politics which saw being engrossed in a crossfire that would seemingly haunt her for the rest of her life.
According Ncube’s relatives, when she moved to Bulawayo, the family that employed her were known MDC Alliance members who would constantly convene night vigils for the party planning moves to engage in political uprisings.
It was not long before the family’s activities were identified by the authorities who reportedly raided the home and arrested everyone, inclusive of Ms Ncube.
“It is unfortunate that they did not consider that Ms Ncube was just an employee but they took everyone for holding these illegal meetings, despite pleas from us her relatives to tell the authorities that she was just a mere maid and if anything she was being forced by circumstances to attend these vigils.
“Upon her release, Ncube told us that she was then attacked at her place of employ by unknown assailants who raped her and told her it was payment for them protecting her from being arrested,” said the relative on condition of anonymity.
After her ordeal, Ncube is said to have escaped to her rural home in Plumtree but is soon said to have disappeared with her daughter alleging that she was now living in fear.
“As is we do not know where the two are because those event were affecting Dudu and she would also have nightmares, she informed us that she feared that the assailants who attacked her in Bulawayo would follow her,” said the relative.
Contacted for comment, the police confirmed having received the rape and assault report, saying investigations were still ongoing.
