A Grade Four learner in Nyanga is heavily prǝgnɑnt after she was interchangeably ƨǝxuɑlly abused by her uncle, a cousin and a school mate.
The learner, who cannot be named to protect her identity, is now six months prǝgnɑnt and in the interest of her future and that of her baby, she is continuing with her lessons in line with Government’s policy.
She turned 13 on January 6. Speaking on Wednesday during a public awareness campaign spearheaded by The Manica Post to fight teen prǝgnɑncies and child marriages in Marange, the Provincial Education Director, Mr Edward Shumba said every child has the right to education, adding that under Zimbabwean law, prǝgnɑnt girls are allowed to continue with their education.
In an interview with The Manica Post on Monday at Kaitano Primary School, with the consent of her father, the Grade Four learner revealed that she was int!mate with her uncle, who is in his late 40s; her 23-year-old cousin and a 15-year-old school mate.
The abusers were identified as Alison Mabvundisa, Joseph Mabota-Mabvumba and a 15-year old teenager (name withheld).
From enquiries done by this reporter in the area, the uncle, a known artisanal gold miner, is strongly believed to have ƨǝxuɑlly abused the minor as a way to enhance his gold mining initiatives, a ritual act known as kupinga gomba. This is done with the help of traditional healers.
The visibly shaken learner said: “I slǝpt with Baba vaTalent (Mabvundisa). This happened while I was alone at home. I also slǝpt with my schoolmate (name withheld) and Joseph Mabota-Mabvumba.”
In a separate interview, the Grade Four learner’s father, (name withheld to protect her identity) said: “We were informed of her prǝgnɑncy by the school authorities. In fact, we were summoned to the school and they told us that she is prǝgnɑnt.”
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