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Nqobile Tshili/ Whinsley Masara, Chronicle Correspondents
A 34-YEAR-OLD man from Pumula East suburb in Bulawayo allegedly ganged up with his friend to rape his landlord’s two minor children aged 12 and 15-years-old.

The accused has been arrested while his accomplice is on the run.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Chief Inspector Precious Simango yesterday confirmed the arrest of the man in connection with the case which occurred on Wednesday.

She said the two men allegedly committed the offence after the girls’ parents travelled overnight and left them in his company.

“The accused who is a tenant at a house in Pumula East suburb is said to have invited his friend to the house. The two took advantage of the absence of the children’s guardians to sexually assault them,” she said.

“The two are said to have followed the 15-year-old, who is a Form Three Pupil at a local school, while the other took the 12-year-old, who is in Grade Seven at a local school, into the bedroom. One of them is said to have remained with the older child in the bedroom while the other took the younger one to the lounge where he raped her once.”

Chief Insp Simango said the tenant was arrested on Thursday after the minor reported the case.

She expressed concern over an increase in rape cases in residential homes.

Chief Insp Simango challenged parents and guardians to desist from leaving their children in company of male adults.

Meanwhile, police in Matabeleland North have embarked on a manhunt for a 19-year-old man from Hwange who allegedly repeatedly raped his eight-year-old niece.

Wisdom Tshuma of Lubimbi village under Chief Kavhula is suspected to have committed the crime last Saturday afternoon.

Matabeleland North police spokesperson Chief Inspector Siphiwe Makonese confirmed the incident revealing that the matter came to light after relatives saw the minor struggling to walk.

“We are hunting for an alleged rape suspect who repeatedly raped an eight-year-old child. The suspect, Wisdom Tshuma of Lubimbi village, called the victim who was at their homestead – about 50 metres away from the mill – to bring a five litre container to the grinding mill,” said Chief Insp Makonese.

“Upon arrival at the mill, he allegedly grabbed her by the hand and dragged her into a storeroom where he is alleged to have raped her once. He is said to have threatened to assault her if she told anyone about the matter.

“Later on that evening, when the victim was sent to serve supper to the suspect who was in his bedroom, he allegedly raped her once more.”

Chief Insp Makonese revealed that the alleged abuse was discovered after the child was seen struggling to walk and behaving oddly.

She appealed to members of the public who may have information about his whereabouts to contact the police.

Chief Insp Makonese called on parents and guardians to promptly report sexual abuse cases to the police even in cases where relatives are the culprits.

“As police we’re worried about cases of sexual abuse and we’re appealing to members of the public to help combat the crime. Juveniles are being raped by close relatives such as uncles, cousins, their mothers’ lovers and tenants,” she said. — @nqotshili/-@winnie_masara