Girl (17) lives with rapist for over a year

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A Mpopoma 17-year-old girl has been living with her rapist for over a year before being thrown out after she fell ill.

Bulawayo Police Spokesperson, Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo confirmed the incident. “Yes, we received such a report and investigations are underway,’’ said Insp Moyo.

The girl is reported to have been admitted to hospital seven times following the abuse.  Narrating her ordeal to the Sunday News, the girl said she came to Bulawayo from Mutare last year when her father died.

“Ndakauya kuBulawayo last year kunotaurira tete vangu kuti baba vashaya ndikasvika vaenda kuSouth Africa, saka ndikashaya nzvimbo yokugara kubva ndatorwa nefriend yangu taenda kwanogara nasekuru vake,’’ (I came to Bulawayo early last year to inform my aunt that my father had died but my aunt had relocated to South Africa. I was forced to stay with my friend’s uncle as I had nowhere else to go),’’ said the girl.

She said the friend left for work leaving her in the company of the uncle who later went to work only to come back around 12 midnight saying he did not know he was off duty.

The suspect then raped her while she screamed consequently alerting the owner of the house who decided that the matter should be reported to the police.

He is alleged to have pleaded with the landlord not to report the matter and offered to marry the girl. The girl later fell pregnant and had a baby.

“We lived together but the marriage was not good as he continuously abused me. I have been to hospital about seven times and have suffered so much and I regret the day I came to Bulawayo,’’ she said.

After chasing the girl away he is reported to have relocated to Ascot.

“At one time he locked her and the baby in the house without food which led to the baby developing an illness,’’ said the source.

The baby was then taken to hospital and died on 31 December last year resulting in the man throwing her out of the house. A woman from the same suburb accommodated her until she was taken by Contact Family Counselling.

A resident identified as Mrs Tshabalala, expressed her disappointment at the police for allegedly failing to handle the matter appropriately.