Bulawayo man elopes with girl (13)

A 13-year-old Nkulumane school girl allegedly eloped with her 27-year-old neighbour after her mother rebuked her for coming home late. The man, who lives next door to the girl, was the last person to be seen with the juvenile. He was also last seen on the day the school girl disappeared.

Narrating her ordeal to Chronicle, Ms Priscilla Mabedzengeri, the mother of the missing girl, said she was so distressed that she can not eat or sleep since the day her daughter disappeared.

She disappeared on 18 January.

The juvenile, Tanaka Nemaviru, is a pupil at Call Us Academy.

"I last saw Tanaka on 18 January at around 7 pm. I had sent her to the shops and she came back late. After rebuking her about the issue and threatening to beat her up she fled from the house and I have not seen her ever since," said Ms Mabedzengeri.

She said her daughter did not come back that day and she was surprised when she received a phone call the next day.

"I received a phone call from her the next day and she apologised and asked if she could come back home. I agreed and expected her but she never came," said Ms Mabedzengeri.

"I know my daughter might be with some man and I am appealing to anyone with information that may lead to the location of either my daughter or the man to contact the nearest police station. I made a report at Nkulumane Police Station and they have promised to help me locate them," she said.

She said anyone with information can contact her on 0772 778 114 or (09) 483893.

Efforts to get comments from Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo were fruitless.