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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A scandal has rocked Ndlovu Secondary School in Hwange District where some pupils staying at a makeshift boarding facility engaged in sex with a group of men and boys from a nearby village.

About 17 girls who attend the school, which is about 50km out of Victoria Falls town, resided at a house owned by Agritex outside the school premises. The house which had been converted into a make-shift boarding facility, was closed after the scandal broke.

Six of the pupils who are in Form One, Two and Four, were suspended from school for two weeks for involvement in the sex escapade last term.

The school authorities confirmed the scandal which also involves boys who are former pupils and some doing Form Four at the school. They would visit the girls’ lodgings at night and have sex with them on many occasions.

The community of Ndlovu has held a series of meetings over the issue.

The Chronicle visited the school recently and interviewed some of the girls who admitted having sex on numerous occasions with different men. The girls (names withheld) said they engaged in the activity in their shared rooms in the presence of their roommates.

They would also sleep and have sex on the same bed at a house belonging to one of the suspected abusers.

“The girls, aged between 14 and 16 years, said they were in love with some of the men and boys, who would pick them from their boarding facility, sleep with them overnight and accompany them back in the morning in time for lessons.

One of the men, believed to be the ring leader, Oliver Maseko, was convicted recently and sentenced to 10 years in jail for a previous case of rape. Maseko had been on bail for sometime while investigations into the sex storm continued.

Another man involved is reportedly a brother to a Form Four boy at the school.

The girls alleged that Maseko would perform some rituals on them before having sex with them.

“They would come at night and take us to Oliver’s house,” said one. “Oliver would carry us on his back one by one into the yard and while inside he would order us to remove our clothes and cover us with a blanket and give us herbs which he said were meant to make sure no one dared ask us about anything. Oliver, who told us he was possessed by a spirit from Mozambique, would give us a piece of root to chew and put in our shoes so that we won’t be quizzed at school.

“They would also sneak into our room through the window. In most cases they’ll be at a camp with their soccer team Cross Country when they would come to our house.”

The girls said they slept on the same bed as couples and have sex in the presence of their roommates. Some of the alleged abusers have been identified by their names.

A Form One girl, was transferred to another school in the same area after serving her suspension.

The makeshift boarding facility has since been closed and the girls joined other pupils at a nearby house where the 17 now live.

One girl who is not part of the victims said: “We’re not safe here. Staying here is convenient for us because of the distance between the school and our homes. However, because of these things we feel very vulnerable and wish there could be an elderly person to protect us.”

The school head, Bheki Ndlovu, confirmed the suspension of the girls.

“Yes, we had such a problem which we’re investigating and the girls have since written reports on that. The problem is that the makeshift boarding where these things were happening isn’t within our premises. We had a meeting where villagers suggested that the facility be closed and the affected pupils seek accommodation among villagers,” said Ndlovu.

He said the school was concerned about the safety of the girls.

The scandal was unearthed by one of the girls’ sister who alerted the school.

Village head for 9B Village, Josiah Moyo, and the councillor for the area, Martin Sibanda confirmed receiving reports.

“We heard there were some girls who were being abused and every authority is doing some investigations,” he said.

Matabeleland North Police spokesperson, Inspector Siphiwe Makonese, could not be reached for comment as her phone was not reachable yesterday.