The Sunday News
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
A CHIEF in Matabeleland North is at the centre of a sex scandal involving a 17-year-old teenager whom he is alleged to have attempted to rape after she turned down his love proposal.
It is alleged that on 1 April this year, the chief (name withheld) attempted to rape a 17-year-old girl in retaliation for turning down his love proposal after tricking her into a room. The teen who bravely fought off her attacker who had pinned her to the floor escaped by hitting him on his injured neck.
The traditional leader is said to have tried to bribe the girl’s mother with two cows in an effort to buy her daughter’s silence.
However, a report was filed at a nearby police base but since then no arrest has been made after the family was told that the docket had been referred to Harare for scrutiny.
National police spokesman Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said he was not yet aware of the matter.
“I am not aware of the case, however, you can get in touch with the provincial spokesperson for comment on that matter,” he said.
However, the father of the girl told Sunday News that he has approached many offices for help but the matter was being dragged.
“I’m gravely concerned about this delay two months after the matter was reported, no action has been taken to arrest and prosecute the chief for what he did to my daughter.
“On 1 April my daughter was alone at a school cottage where she stays with her mother while attending school. The chief’s wife advised my daughter that her husband was requesting her presence to discuss her education sponsor. On hearing that she immediately went to see the chief whom she found at his homestead before telling him that she was responding to his message.
“However, he told her that it was all a joke as it was Fool’s Day and as she was about to leave he instructed her to get some mealies in one of the kitchen huts. She respectfully declined arguing that her teeth were painful,” said the father who cannot be named to protect the identity of the girl.
The father said the chief angrily insisted resulting in her complying but when she went into the kitchen, she was shocked to find a bed and wardrobe with no plates or pots in sight. As she was about to come out, the chief allegedly blocked her way.
“This prompted her to ask where the said mealies were to which the chief told her that she was in for it and was not going anywhere as he wanted to sleep with her. She tried to escape but he got hold of her before fondling her breasts, buttocks and private parts as she fought to break free.
“As he forced her to the bed in an effort to rape her, my daughter remembered that he had a nagging pain in the neck caused by an accident. She hit him hard on the neck forcing him to withdraw in pain giving her time to pull back her clothes and escape.”
The father said he only got to know about the incident on 14 May as he was away in Zambia before a police report was made the following day at Pashu Police Base under CR03/06/2020. The father said since then no action had been taken raising fears that the traditional leader may have used his influence to escape prosecution.
“The time it is taking for the case to be actioned has left us worried and we suspect maybe some people were bribed. He tried to bribe my daughter’s mother by sending a village head to persuade her not to file a police report but he wasn’t successful. We were just told that the docket has gone to Harare. This is weighing heavily on my daughter and further traumatising her as she is seeing her attacker walking free.”
On 27 June after the case was transferred to Binga, police officers visited the family to obtain statements. Officials from Camfed, Department of Social Welfare, Child Protection and Childline also visited the family to offer counseling to the teen.
The father said in retaliation to their decision to report him the chief has been pushing for their deregistration as beneficiaries under a food aid programme. The chief could not be reached for comment.
