News / Local
57 vuzu party youths arrested
31 Aug 2015 at 02:20hrs | Views
POLICE in Bulawayo arrested 57 youths, while scores more escaped by scaling a precast wall during a midnight raid at a vuzu party in Lochview suburb.
The vuzu party craze is sweeping across the city, with children indulging in marathon unprotected sex sessions and substance abuse at the shindigs.
The youths, aged between 13 and 32 from different parts of Bulawayo were reportedly invited to the vuzu party to celebrate a friend's 22nd birthday.
The birthday boy, only identified as Frank, is a student at Lupane State University.
He was also arrested. His parents, who are the owners of the house, reportedly reside out of Bulawayo.
The Chronicle caught up with some of the teenagers who attended the party and they said Frank hired taxis to ferry them to and from the house to attend the lavish party.
A comment could not be obtained from Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango as she is away in Harare. The well organised party was attended by youths from the city centre, Romney Park, North End, Queens Park, Entumbane, Nkulumane, Pumula South and Emakhandeni.
The party was halted just after midnight when police officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) raided the youths following a report by neighbours over "too much noise".
When Chronicle visited Hillside Police Station yesterday morning, scores of girls were seated at the charge office waiting to pay $5 fines while the boys were locked in the cells.
Parents were also flocking to the police station to pay fines for their children to be released.
Police officers said they arrested the youths for criminal nuisance. They said neighbours called them complaining that the noise coming from the house was disturbing their peace.
One of the youths who had just been released told The Chronicle that she had been invited by a friend to Frank's party.
"I went to the party at about 4PM and there was plenty of food and beer. My friends left at about 10PM but I remained behind because I was still enjoying the free beer," said the 19-year-old from Nkulumane. "The house was packed with people drinking, smoking and dancing while others were braaing outside the house. Some were grouping themselves and using the bedrooms for sex orgies."
She said while she was considering going home, police raided the house. "They packed us into their van and forced others in the cars that were parked outside the house.
"We slept on the benches in the charge office and the boys were locked in the cells. The police officers told us that we would be released after paying $5 fines," she said.
Another youth said she had just arrived at the house to pick up her sister when police pounced. "My sister phoned me and asked me to pick her up. I parked near the gate and before I got out of the car I saw a police van and I was arrested together with those who were attending the party," she said.
Vuzu parties have become a common feature in Bulawayo. The most recent one saw 16 teenagers being arrested last month.
Police investigators discovered bottles of vodka and wine as well as condoms and traditional aphrodisiacs known as umvusankunzi.
The vuzu party craze is sweeping across the city, with children indulging in marathon unprotected sex sessions and substance abuse at the shindigs.
The youths, aged between 13 and 32 from different parts of Bulawayo were reportedly invited to the vuzu party to celebrate a friend's 22nd birthday.
The birthday boy, only identified as Frank, is a student at Lupane State University.
He was also arrested. His parents, who are the owners of the house, reportedly reside out of Bulawayo.
The Chronicle caught up with some of the teenagers who attended the party and they said Frank hired taxis to ferry them to and from the house to attend the lavish party.
A comment could not be obtained from Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Precious Simango as she is away in Harare. The well organised party was attended by youths from the city centre, Romney Park, North End, Queens Park, Entumbane, Nkulumane, Pumula South and Emakhandeni.
The party was halted just after midnight when police officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) raided the youths following a report by neighbours over "too much noise".
When Chronicle visited Hillside Police Station yesterday morning, scores of girls were seated at the charge office waiting to pay $5 fines while the boys were locked in the cells.
Parents were also flocking to the police station to pay fines for their children to be released.
Police officers said they arrested the youths for criminal nuisance. They said neighbours called them complaining that the noise coming from the house was disturbing their peace.
One of the youths who had just been released told The Chronicle that she had been invited by a friend to Frank's party.
"I went to the party at about 4PM and there was plenty of food and beer. My friends left at about 10PM but I remained behind because I was still enjoying the free beer," said the 19-year-old from Nkulumane. "The house was packed with people drinking, smoking and dancing while others were braaing outside the house. Some were grouping themselves and using the bedrooms for sex orgies."
She said while she was considering going home, police raided the house. "They packed us into their van and forced others in the cars that were parked outside the house.
"We slept on the benches in the charge office and the boys were locked in the cells. The police officers told us that we would be released after paying $5 fines," she said.
Another youth said she had just arrived at the house to pick up her sister when police pounced. "My sister phoned me and asked me to pick her up. I parked near the gate and before I got out of the car I saw a police van and I was arrested together with those who were attending the party," she said.
Vuzu parties have become a common feature in Bulawayo. The most recent one saw 16 teenagers being arrested last month.
Police investigators discovered bottles of vodka and wine as well as condoms and traditional aphrodisiacs known as umvusankunzi.
Source - chronicle
