A bid to avoid punishment at home has led a 14-year-old girl to fall into the hands of paedophiles, who drugged and raped her in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The teenager had been involved in a school fight and was threatened with punishment by her mother.
In a bid to avoid the punishment, she fled home and headed to her grandmother’s place.
However, she never got there; a man, Tawanda Zhuwawo and an unnamed accomplice intercepted her.
They forced her to ingest some hard substances before repeatedly having carnal knowledge of her.
The suspected paedophiles kept the girl captive overnight, subjecting her to more sexual exploitation.
The police were alerted to the crime by the relatives of girl.
According to Inspector Luckmore Chakanza, Harare’s provincial police spokesperson, the police sprang into action and were able to apprehend Tawanda.
He called for public support to arrest the remaining suspect who remains at large.
The police spokesperson said the victim was given immediate medical attention at Chitungwiza Central Hospital and had been connected with counselling services through Social Welfare.
It was also learnt that the victim was treated at the hospital, where forensic examinations were also conducted.
