The Sunday News
Fairness Moyana
VILLAGERS in Jotsholo, Lupane District, were left in shock recently following revelations that a 33-year-old man has been raping his 17-year-old sibling with whom he shares a bedroom on several occasions over the past four years.
Police have launched a manhunt for the man from BH6 Village, Dandanda area under Chief Menyezwa, who is alleged to have threatened to kill his younger sister before raping her on several occasions between May 2011 and September 2014.
Confirming the incident, acting Matabeleland North police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Mandla Ndlovu said sometime in May 2011 the complainant, who was then aged 13, was sleeping in the same bedroom hut with her brother when he sneaked into her blankets and raped her once.
“After the act he then threatened to kill her if she revealed it to anyone forcing her into silence. The accused went on to use the same modus operandi to rape the complainant several times on different occasions between May 2011 and September 2014. We have since launched a manhunt for him and we are appealing to anyone with information leading to his arrest,” said Asst Inspector Ndlovu.
The matter came to light when the girl went to stay with her sister-in-law in Bulawayo where she confided in her on what she had gone through at the hands of her brother. A police report was made at Jotsholo Police Station but before police could act, he fled to an unknown destination.
The girl was taken to St Luke’s Hospital for medical examination.
Meanwhile, police in Matabeleland North have launched a manhunt for a shop minder only known as Mbonisi who raped a 15-year-old Sojini Secondary School pupil at the hostels after his love proposal was turned down.
According to sources, Mbonisi was employed at Maplanka Store at Fingo Business Centre in Mbembesi while the pupil was also staying at Maplanka Complex where she was residing with 20 other girls.
Sometime in November last year at around 8.30pm, the pupil was studying in her room when she was requested by a 17-year-old friend to accompany her to the fireplace within the same complex. While outside, her friend purported to have forgotten something in the house before leaving her standing outside alone.
Mbonisi suddenly appeared from nowhere, grabbed and dragged her into his room where he raped her once before fleeing to an unknown destination.
The girl did not tell anyone what had happened. However, the matter came to light early this year when the owner of the complex, a Mr Maplanka, received a tip-off.
After quizzing her, he advised her to inform one of her teachers about the rape who in turn reported the matter to the police.
Police have called on members of the community to report rape incidents without delay to ensure that they apprehend perpetrators and victims receive treatment to stop pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
