By TellZim Reporter
A yet-to-be-identified assailant, two weeks ago, brutally raped a grade one pupil who was on her way from school in a bushy area around Mutirikwi River in Gutu.
The infant, who cannot be named for ethical reasons is said to have been walking alone, along a path that crosses the river from a nearby primary school, when the assailant, believed to be a secondary school learner from a nearby secondary school approached her.
Sources close to the matter revealed that the assailant, whose face was covered in black soot, threatened the little girl with unspecified action, after which he raped her several times.
The perpetrator is alleged to have been caught during the act but managed to flee, leaving a pair of shoes that then led to him being named as suspect.
By the time of writing, the suspect was said to not have been caught yet, as neighbourhood watch police allegedly did not have enough evidence linking him to the crime.
Further information indicated that the girl had been left in the custody of her paternal grandmother while both her parents worked in South Africa.
It is also reported that the girl walked alone to and from school daily, crossing the river as there is no school close to where she lives.
Villagers who spoke to this publication said the teenager linked to the rape is known to be repeatedly truant, as he often skips school and is on record for having severely injured a grade three boy from the same area with a bicycle a few years ago, and hid the infant in the bush until he managed to crawl to a nearby road where he then got help.
“The boy in question has been named suspect in several incidents that happen in this area, and parents now fear for their school-going infants, especially after the most recent case,” one villager said.
Masvingo Police could not confirm the case, saying they were yet to receive the report, while the girl has been taken for medical examinations.
