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Rutendo Nyeve Victoria Falls Reporter
A Victoria Falls man has been arrested and remanded in custody for allegedly kidnapping a nine-year-old boy before sodomising him in a harrowing overnight ordeal.
Joram Ndlovu, of Betty homestead under Chief Mvuthu in Monde, Victoria Falls, appeared before Victoria Falls resident magistrate Mr Gift Manyika on Monday.
He faces one count of kidnapping and two counts of aggravated indecent assault. He was remanded in custody until June 16.
It is alleged that after subjecting the minor to a night-long horrifying ordeal, Ndlovu then attempted to buy the victim’s silence by purchasing him a toy mobile phone, two watches, and a purse.
Prosecutor Ms Audrey Mukanganya told the court that on May 30, Ndlovu allegedly found the boy alone at his parents’ home.
He then force-marched the complainant to an incomplete house in a secluded area of Aerodrome suburb, where he detained him for the entire night.
He is accused of ordering the boy to remove his clothes before sodomising him three times.
“After the act, Ndlovu gave the boy a cellphone toy, two watches and a black purse to buy his silence. The two then spent the whole night in the bush,” Ms Mukanganya said.
The court heard that at around 7:30PM, the complainant’s father discovered his son was missing and promptly reported the matter to the police.
A search party was immediately mobilised, but the boy could not be found that evening.
The following morning, on May 31, local residents joined the police in continuing the search effort.
The court further heard that at around 9AM, detectives from CID Victoria Falls received a crucial tip-off regarding the complainant’s whereabouts.
Acting swiftly on that information, officers raided Ndlovu’s place of residence, leading to his arrest.
The young boy was subsequently taken to Victoria Falls Hospital for medical examination, where it was confirmed he had sustained injuries consistent with sexual abuse. — @nyeve14
