Orphaned 13-Year-Old Girl Pregnant After Alleged Abuse By Eight Men

A 13-year-old girl from Chikomba District, Mashonaland East, is pregnant, and eight men are suspected of sexually abusing her.

She is currently sitting her final Grade 7 ZIMSEC exams at a school in Chikomba East constituency.

The girl, who is an orphan, has been staying with relatives. According to villagers, she recently revealed that some of those same relatives were among the people who abused her.

The case was reported to Madamombe Police Station, and officers have since visited the school in Ward 14 to speak directly with staff.

A whistleblower told NewsDay that the girl is being mistreated by the very people she lives with. Said the whistleblower:

“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.

“We appeal to authorities to take the victim to a safe house so that evidence to this case can be saved.”

Some villagers have reached out to the local NGO Zimbabwe Reveal for Generations Trust (ZRGT) to help handle the case.

ZRGT director Eddington Mugova confirmed that there is indeed a pregnant learner at the school. He said:

“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.

“The learner is currently sitting for her exams. According to the reports we have, the victim has implicated several men who abused her, with some of them being her relatives.

“As an organisation, we have engaged the Primary and Secondary Education ministry at provincial level.”

School Development Committee chairperson Abiniel Makono confirmed the case and said that law enforcement officers had visited the school. Said Makono:

“There is a case of such nature. The news I have is that the victim is around three months pregnant.

“The police visited the school recently and I understand they are still doing their investigations.

“The matter came to light after the girl revealed the sexual abuse to some teachers who had quizzed her after noticing some unusual developments on her.”

Ward 14 councillor Ashton Mhan’arai told NewsDay that the case has been referred to both the government’s Social Welfare Department and the police. He said:

“I confirm that we have such a case. The last time I heard of the victim was that she was looking after her two young siblings.

“The matter is being handled professionally since the girl is writing her Grade 7 examinations.

“The DSI [district schools inspector], the Social Welfare Department and the police are all aware and looking into the matter.”

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