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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
TRADITIONAL leaders in Bulilima and Mangwe Districts have raised concern over the rise in rape cases perpetrated by youths in the two areas.

The leaders blamed the rape cases on a lack of morals among youngsters.

Chiefs from the two districts said most of these youngsters picked up this immoral behaviour from neighbouring countries.

Headman Phahlana from Mangwe District said most culprits in sexual abuse cases had previously fled to neighbouring countries.

“It’s alarming to note that the bulk of people who are being arrested for rape are men below the age of 25 years. Their victims are normally primary school pupils that they are related to.

“These youngsters are the same people who drop out of school and go to South Africa or Botswana but later return after adopting various immoral tendencies,” said Headman Phahlana.

Chief Madlambuzi of Bulilima District said a number of serial rapists who had previously caused commotion within his area were youngsters.

He said some of them would at times sexually abuse elderly women.

Chief Madlambuzi said rape remained a serious crime even when perpetrated by elderly people.

“Youngsters have brought a lot of fear among community members because of their animalistic tendencies. In some villages, women are unable to move about freely and children are not attending school because their parents fear that they could be raped by these wayward youngsters.

“A 24-year-old man from my area recently brought terror upon villagers as he moved around raping school pupils and elderly women,” said Chief Madlambuzi.

Chief Bango of Mangwe District said parents and guardians had a duty to ensure that moral values were instilled among youngsters.

He said youths did not have to take a leading role in committing crimes but in championing development within their communities.

Chief Bango said some parents were partly to blame for the moral degradation as some encouraged their children to drop out of school to seek employment in neighbouring countries.

“Some youngsters move to Botswana or South Africa without attaining any academic qualifications. Such children become desperate and are forced to engage in criminal activities,” he said.

In a recent incident, a 21-year-old man from Hobodo area in Mangwe was in court for allegedly raping his neighbour’s 13-year-old daughter.

Freedom Ncube allegedly proceeded to the complainant’s homestead while wearing a mask and armed with a knife. He raped the complainant who was alone in her parents’ kitchen hut.

In another incident, an 18-year-old man from Osabeni area in Mangwe appeared in court for allegedly raping his employer’s seven-year-old girl.

Smart Moyo, who works at the complainant’s homestead as a herdman, raped her several times while she was alone.

A man suspected to be in his early 20s recently brought terror to villagers in Vulindlela area in Matobo as he allegedly raped several old women in their 70s.