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.

Theย accused is Moreblessing Sibanda whoย allegedly raped theย 18-year-old female student who lives in Magwegwe Northย 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.

โ€œPolice 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,โ€ 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.ย 

โ€œThe 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,โ€ said Inspector Ncube.

The accused person then drove to a house in Gwabalanda where he parked inside the yard and disembarked, added the inspector.

โ€œSibanda dragged the complainant from the vehicle, unlocked the door and pushed her into the house. The conductor remained behind and drove the vehicle away,โ€ said the provincial police spokesperson.

โ€œWhilst inside the house, the accused person pushed the complainant onto the bed, forcibly undressed and raped her once.โ€

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. 

โ€œThe 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,โ€ he said. 

Inspector Ncube said police have established that the room used by the accused person to rape the student belongs to his friend.ย 

โ€œInvestigations are still in progress,โ€ he said.

This incident has gone viral on social media with a message said to be originating from the studentโ€™s mother advising other residents to be careful and guard their children especially those who board transport to and from school.

โ€œNgiyaqhuqha bomama ndilapha kodwa ke ngithe let me share labanye abantwana bephephe.this pain engikuyo angiyifiseli even my worst enemy.ย (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),โ€ read the message.

Lulu Brenda Harris is a seasoned senior news reporter at CITE. Harris writes on politics, migration, health, education, environment, conservation and sustainable development. Her work has helped keep the...

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