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Mpumelelo Nyoni Chronicle Reporter
A NINE-year-old girl from Insuza under Headman Jefry Masuku in Matabeleland North has been raped thrice by three men since last year. This was revealed when Simiso Tshabalala, 18, appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Crispen Mberewere facing a charge of rape.

Prosecuting, Trust Muduma told the court that the girl was in the company of her three- year-old sister when Tshabalala raped her.
“On April 27 this year the complainant was eating wild fruits on her way from a nearby homestead. Tshabalala, who was herding cattle with his friend Trynos, dragged her into the bush, leaving her sister behind.

“He then forced her to lie down facing upwards and removed her pants. He then closed her mouth, unzipped and lowered his trousers and raped her once,” said Muduma.

The prosecutor said Trynos was on the lookout and alerted Tshabalala when a group of passersby came near.
“The accused’s friend, a Trynos whistled when a group of villagers went past the area to alert Tshabalala who then produced a knife and ordered the girl to proceed to her place of residence,” he said.

Last year, the girl was also raped by her uncle and a neighbour who were both juveniles at the time. Muduma said the two were convicted and are serving their sentences at Khami Prison.

He said the girl lives with her grandmother.
“The complainant lives with her grandmother who is seldom at home. Her father went away when she was young and her mother has two other children with another man whom she lives with in the business centre.

“As a result she is easy prey to potential rapists as one of the boys who raped her was friends with Tshabalala,” he said.

The girl did not tell anyone about the matter and it only came to light on May 10 when she and her friends were bathing in a nearby stream.

One of them noticed that she was bleeding from her genitals and quizzed her, resulting in the matter coming to light.
Her friend told her grandfather and a meeting of elders in the area was convened. A report was later made leading to Tshabalala’s arrest.
Mberewere is expected to deliver his judgment on May 29.