Police in Bulawayo are appealing for information that may help them arrest a commuter omnibus driver who allegedly raped a female student who was on her way to school on Wednesday.
The accused is Moreblessing Sibanda who allegedly raped the 18-year-old female student who lives in Magwegwe North after she boarded a commuter omnibus that he drove.
When other passengers in the vehicle had dropped off, Sibanda took off with the student to a house in Gwabalanda while the conductor went off with the commuter omnibus.
Bulawayo Provincial Police Spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said apart from his name the accused has no further particulars.
“Police are appealing for information that may assist in the location of Moreblessing Sibanda with no further particulars known in connection with a case of rape. The complainant is a female adult aged 18 years from Magwegwe North, Bulawayo. The accused person and the complainant are not related,” he said.
According to the provincial police spokesperson, on April 24, 2024 around 7 am, the complainant was going to school when she boarded a yellow commuter omnibus, with unknown registration numbers at a bus stop near her place of residence at Magwegwe North.
“The Commuter Omnibus was driven by the accused person and had seven passengers on board, including the conductor. All the passengers disembarked at Sign 60 intersection, Gwabalanda, Bulawayo,” said Inspector Ncube.
The accused person then drove to a house in Gwabalanda where he parked inside the yard and disembarked, added the inspector.
“Sibanda dragged the complainant from the vehicle, unlocked the door and pushed her into the house. The conductor remained behind and drove the vehicle away,” said the provincial police spokesperson.
“Whilst inside the house, the accused person pushed the complainant onto the bed, forcibly undressed and raped her once.”
After committing the offence, the suspect and victim left the house and walked to Sign 60 intersection bus stop, where tInspector Ncube said they boarded a commuter omnibus headed to Bulawayo Central Business District.
“The complainant disembarked at a bus stop in town, leaving the accused person behind. A police report was then made. The accused person was not located and his whereabouts are still not known,” he said.
Inspector Ncube said police have established that the room used by the accused person to rape the student belongs to his friend.
“Investigations are still in progress,” he said.
This incident has gone viral on social media with a message said to be originating from the student’s mother advising other residents to be careful and guard their children especially those who board transport to and from school.
“Ngiyaqhuqha bomama ndilapha kodwa ke ngithe let me share labanye abantwana bephephe.this pain engikuyo angiyifiseli even my worst enemy. (I am trembling as I write this message but I am doing so in the hope that other children do not become victims to such violations),” read the message.
