Zimpapers Logo

Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
PARENTS in some parts of Bulilima District are withdrawing their children from school following a spate of sexual abuse cases in the area.
Villagers have raised concern that girls who walk long distances to school are being sexually abused by herders and parents are responding by making their children stay at home as a way of protecting them.
At a recent council meeting, councillors pointed out that the rape of pupils who walk long distances to school is getting out of hand.
The councillor for Natane Ward, Tapson Hanyane, said children from his area had dropped out of Bezu Secondary School.

“Parents from my area especially in Ntunungwe Village are concerned that their children who are at primary and secondary level are being sexually abused by herders who ambush them while on their way to and from school.

“They feel that this is because children walk long distances to schools and they sometimes walk through bushy areas. As a result children from my area have dropped out of secondary school and their parents have made it clear that they will only allow them back into school once a school is built in their area,” he said.

Hanyane said some pupils in his ward had to walk about 15 kilometres to reach the nearest school.
The councillor for Matjinge area, Bornface Phiri, said his ward was also affected and some primary schoolchildren had been stopped from attending school.

He said parents in Goba Village had raised concern as pupils walked for about 10 kilometres to Gambo Primary School.
The councillor said pupils often missed lessons due to long distances as well as flooded rivers during rainy seasons, the major reasons behind school drop outs.

According to council minutes, recently education officials had to visit Tjompani Primary in Dombodema area to urge parents to send their children back to school.

In a case that was reported recently, a 16-year-old boy from Ndiweni area in Bulilima District allegedly raped two girls aged eight and 10 while they were coming from school.

Hilson Sibindi, who appeared in court recently, met the two girls in a bushy area near Ndiweni Business Centre. He forced marched them to a bridge and raped them.

The two girls, who learn at Thekwane Primary School, were rescued by villagers who heard them screaming for help.
The councillor for the area, Sylvester Nkomo, said the development had caused a stir within the community as parents now feared for the safety of their children