adminMaxwell Mbiba, originally from Village 2 in Dorset near Shurugwi but employed as a domestic worker at Phezulu Farm in Fort Rixon, would allegedly lie in ambush for the pupils on their way from school.
On some occasions he would allegedly waylay them whenever he met them around the farm compound.
The little girls ended up visiting Mbiba at his room to ask for the wild berries (umtshwankela) and he allegedly took advantage of this to rape them.
The girls live at the same compound with Mbiba and attend Phezulu Primary School.
One of the victims was allegedly raped four times as the “innocent” girls always fell for Mbiba’s tricks.
He would allegedly lure them into his bedroom hut where he reportedly kept the wild berries (umtshwankela) under his bed.
The court heard that Mbiba would close the complainants’ mouths with his hands when they tried to scream as he raped them.
Testifying at the Victim Friendly Court, the little girls said they referred to Mbiba as “uncle” because they knew him as their neighbour.
They told the court that he would lure them into his bedroom where he would dangle the wild fruit that was kept in a transparent plastic bag.
After giving them the fruit, Mbiba would thereafter allegedly rape them.
Although the rape started last June, the little girls kept quiet until they recently revealed to their teachers at school who later reported the matter to the police at Shangani Police Base.
Mbiba was arraigned before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mrs Fadzai Mthombeni to answer to six counts of rape and one attempted rape.
He is denying the charges.
The State case presented by Mr Goodluck Katenaire is that sometime in June this year, Mbiba lured an 11-year-old girl to his room after promising to give her the fruit.
The girl reportedly went to Mbiba’s room at about 6pm and found him alone.
The court heard that Mbiba instructed the girl to get umtshwankela from his bedroom under the bed.
The girl went to the room and when she was looking for the said fruit, Mbiba allegedly pounced on her and raped her once on his bed.
After the rape, Mbiba allegedly threatened to beat her up if she dared tell anyone about the incident.
On the second count, the court heard that the complainant was sent to the shops where she found Mbiba sitting on the verandah.
The shopkeeper was reportedly not around and Mbiba allegedly grabbed the girl, pulled her towards him and made her sit on his lap before raping her once.
The court was told that the girl threatened to report him but he just laughed it off.
The court heard that between June and July, a 13-year-old girl doing Grade Six went to Mbiba’s house to ask for the “popular wild fruit”.
When she got there she found him alone and he instructed her to go and get the fruit under the bed in his bedroom.
He again followed her and raped her once and threatened to harm her if she reported the rape to anyone.
The girl reportedly went back to Mbiba’s place of residence on three more occasions to ask for the same fruit and each time he would rape her in the same way.
On another count, Mbiba allegedly invited an 11-year-old girl to his room to get the same fruit and he tried to use the same modus operandi to rape her but this time he was disturbed.
The court heard that when he tried to rape the girl, he was disturbed by one of the girls who had been raped before who knocked at the door.
The girl had returned for another bite of the popular fruit.
The matter only came to light when the girls discussed among themselves about their experiences and they discovered they had been sexually abused in the same manner and agreed to inform their teachers.
They narrated their stories to one of the teachers who then informed the school head. The school authorities convened a meeting where it was agreed that the matter should be reported to the police, leading to the arrest of Mbiba.
The girls were referred to hospital for medical examination.
Mbiba was remanded in custody to 13 December for continuation of trial.
Online Reporter