IN a tragic incident that left villagers in Chikomba shocked and seeking answers, a 13-year-old girl is pregnant, with a total of eight men being suspected of sexually abusing her. The victim (name withheld) is currently sitting for her final Grade 7 Zimbabwe School Examinations Council final examinations at a school in Chikomba East constituency. The girl, an orphan, who according to the villagers has been living with a relative of late, has reportedly revealed that she was even sexually abused by some of her relatives.
The incident has since drawn anger within the community, with villagers accusing the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) of not urgently investigating the matter. The matter was reported at the nearby Madamombe Police Station. Some police officers reportedly visited the school in Ward 14 to get first-hand information from school authorities.
“The victim is an orphan. She is being violated by her relatives who are staying with her,” a whistleblower told NewsDay Weekender this week. “Some of the wives of the victim’s suspects are busy pressuring her not to divulge more details to save their husbands from being arrested.
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“We appeal to authorities to take the victim to a safe house so that evidence to this case can be saved.” Some villagers have since engaged a local non-governmental organisation, Zimbabwe Reveal for Generations Trust (ZRGT), to assist in handling the matter. ZRGT director Eddington Mugova confirmed that there is a pregnant learner at the school. “I confirm that we have received a report to the effect that there is a 13-year-old girl who was sexually abused and is now pregnant,” Mugova said.
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