Zimpapers Logo

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A MARRIED Plumtree based Agritex officer allegedly kidnapped a Form Three pupil and took her to his homestead where he raped her overnight.Meluleki Mpofu, 34, met the 16-year-old girl who learns at Ivimila High School in Mangwe District and told her that he had been assigned by her sister to collect her from school.

The girl complied and boarded a taxi with Mpofu.

Mpofu, who has five children, allegedly dragged the girl to the Agritex cottages in Madabe area where he stays and allegedly forced himself on the pupil.

On Monday, he appeared before Plumtree magistrate Livard Philemon facing charges of rape and unlawful detention.

Mpofu was remanded out of custody to December 29 on $100 bail.

Prosecuting, Clemence Shawarira said Mpofu met the girl in Mangwe at around 10PM while she was looking for transport to her parents’ home in Plumtree.

The girl had gone for a sporting event at Mqegula Sports Ground.

He said the girl had met Mpofu who is a family friend.

“Mpofu met the girl as she was leaving the sports ground and asked whether her family knew of her whereabouts as it was late.  He pretended to call the girl’s sister and went on to tell the girl that her sister had recommended that he takes her to his home in Madabe area as it was late,” said Shawarira.

He said Mpofu dragged the girl into his house, locked her inside and raped her once.

Mpofu then detained the girl for the whole night and only released her on the following morning at around 6AM.

He warned the complainant against reporting the matter and hired a taxi to take her home.

Shawarira said the pupil did not disclose the incident to her mother.

“Two days later the complainant’s mother, out of suspicion, took her daughter to the ZRP Plumtree Victim Friendly Unit section where she was later referred to Plumtree District Hospital for examination,” he said.

He said a medical report which was compiled revealed that the girl had been sexually abused. She was later questioned by police officers and went on to reveal that she had been raped by Mpofu.

Mpofu denied the allegations and claimed the girl had consented to having sexual intercourse with him as they were lovers.