Man cohabits with Grade 7 pupil

News
A man from Inyathi in Matabeleland North believed to be in his late 30s allegedly impregnated a 14-year-old Grade 7 pupil and is now cohabiting with her.

A man from Inyathi in Matabeleland North believed to be in his late 30s allegedly impregnated a 14-year-old Grade 7 pupil and is now cohabiting with her.

BY MTHANDAZO NYONI

The girl goes to Mucklenuck Primary School in Bubi.

Villagers familiar with the matter said the man (name suplied) allegedly bribed the teenage girl’s aunt with $200 and threatened the girl with unspecified action if she reported the issue.

The orphaned girl used to stay with her aunt in ward 23.

“Their affair started sometime last year when she was doing Grade 6.

“Then early this year, her aunt discovered that the girl was pregnant and upon interrogation, the girl implicated the man,” a villager who spoke on condition of anonymity told Southern Eye.

“He bribed the aunt with $200 so that she could not reveal the affair to anyone.

“As villagers, we feel it’s very unfair for a married man to do that.

“We believe relevant authorities should intervene and save the girl from further abuse,” the villager said. Southern Eye yesterday visited then man’s homestead at Mucklenuck Village 1C in Ward 23 but could not locate him as he was said to be at work.

This publication also tried to trace the girl’s aunt to no avail.

Ward chairman Themba Gumbo confirmed the matter but refused to give further details.

“Yes, I heard such disturbing news and I am yet to sit down with the girl’s aunt to confirm before we take any action. “If we find out it is true we will take necessary measures,” Gumbo said.

The girl’s teachers said she had failed to report to school this term due to the alleged pregnancy.

“We heard that the girl is pregnant and as teachers we feel it’s an abuse of a girl child.

“We are still doing our investigations and if we find out we will do something,” said a teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity.