adminRichard Muponde Sunday News Correspondent
THERE has been an outcry in Hwange after some stranded Ndlovu Secondary School pupils were accommodated by a suspected sex-worker for the better part of last term, after their makeshift boarding facilities were closed when a sex scandal broke out in June. The pupils are part of 18 pupils who were stranded after their makeshift boarding facility which is close to the school was closed by school authorities.
The girls, who were staying in two four-roomed houses which they rented outside the school premises, 50km from Victoria Falls Town, were ordered out of the houses after a sex scandal broke out two months ago.
The school head, the late Mr Bheki Ndlovu, reserved learning places for them but indicated that they should find alternative lodgings with different villagers.
This prompted some of the girls to seek lodgings within the villagers while others who failed to find accommodation were stranded until the end of the term.
However, reports coming from Ndlovu are that some of the pupils, whose number could not be immediately verified, were now living with a suspected lady of the night, much to the chagrin of concerned villagers.
The woman has been said to be frequenting night spots since the death of her husband years ago and offering her body for sex, sometimes with younger men.
A source from the village, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that indeed the woman frequented drinking spots.
“What will these children under her custody learn from her? She even hired boyfriends for her daughter and what would stop her from abusing those pupils by looking for men on their behalf?” she asked.
“Ever since her husband passed away she has been frequenting night spots where she would be seen in the company of young men. That woman is not upright, she cannot be entrusted with the girls. School authorities should look into the matter and see if these girls were not being abused before schools open next term.”
Efforts to get a comment from the woman were fruitless as her mobile phone was unreachable.
The councillor for the area, Mr Martin Ndlovu, said he doubted the woman was a sex worker but confirmed that she lived alone after losing her husband.
“The problem with people is that if they see a woman living alone without a husband they think she’s a prostitute. That woman lost her husband some time ago and I doubt if she’s what they are saying she is. I don’t know. It’s only I am still in Hwange Town where I had come to bury the school headmaster. I will investigate and see how many pupils live with her but it’s difficult now since schools are closed,” said Clr Ndlovu.
Six of the pupils who are in Form One, Two and Four were suspended from the school for two weeks for their involvement in the sex escapades last term.
The sex scandal involved boys who are former pupils and some doing Form Four at the school.
They would visit the girls’ lodgings at night and engage in sex with them on a number of occasions.
Some of the girls admitted engaging in sex on numerous occasions with different men.
The girls (names withheld) said they engaged in sex in their shared rooms in the presence of their roommates.
One of the men believed to be the ring leader of the sex storm, Oliver Maseko is serving 10 years in prison after he was convicted of a previous rape case in June.
The girls alleged that Maseko would perform some rituals before having sex with them.
Online Reporter