WOMAN’S pressure group Musasa Project is up in arms with Chiredzi police for their reluctance to investigate a case in which a 54-year-old man allegedly raped two girls aged six and eight on several occasions. LINDA CHINOBVA OWN CORRESPONDENT
A Musasa Project counsellor told Southern Eye that when the cases were reported to the police, they were reluctant to arrest the man and only took action after members of the community demonstrated and threatened to kill the alleged rapist.
“We are not happy with the way the police are handling this case. From the outset, they were reluctant to arrest the perpetrator until the community demonstrated and threatened to kill the rapist and his family,” said the counsellor.
“After the community’s threats, the police took action and eventually arrested the man.”
She alleged that when the cases were first reported, the cops did not bother taking the minors for medical examinations and only did so after further abuse.
The counsellor said they strongly suspected that the police handling the case and the accused were related.
She said this was not the first time police were reluctant to investigate cases, especially those involving women.
“We have been having problems with the police in the area as they do not effectively deal with various issues affecting the community.
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“Domestic violence and sexual abuse are affecting women and are rife in the area, but they have done nothing about the issue,” she said.
She said they feared for their lives as some members of the community were threatening stakeholders involved with the case.
Other stakeholders such as Gender Links and Plan International had joined forces with Musasa Project to push for justice for the minors.
The counsellor said Ezekiel Dube, who works at Mkwasine Irrigation Scheme in the town, allegedly raped the six-year-old girl who lives across the road from his house several times this year.
However, Dube’s luck is said to have run out last week when he allegedly raped the minor and her parents noticed fresh sperm on her thighs.
The minors’ parents questioned the girl and she implicated Dube. They report the matter to the police, but the counsellor said the report was ignored until members of the community demonstrated.
Dube is also alleged to have raped the eight-year-old girl, who is his next door neighbour, last year in August on different occasions.
The girl had been left in Dube’s care while her parents travelled to their rural home.
Dube is believed to have called the minor into his house, offered her a dollar and raped her.
Dube has since appeared in court and was remanded in custody to April 14.
The Musasa Project counsellor said the girls are currently on sexually transmitted infections (STI) treatment.
More girls are reported to have come forward alleging that Dube had also tried to rape them.
Masvingo acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkululeko Nduna said he was not aware of the alleged rape cases.
