Man ties boy to tree, rapes 2 Grade 1s

A 33-YEAR-OLD Bulilima man allegedly raped two Grade One pupils in full view of a six-year-old boy whom he had tied to a tree to stop him from seeking help.

Dumisani Moyo of Mbila area met the three Grade One pupils, two girls and a boy, while they were on their way from school on Friday afternoon.

He force-marched them into a bushy area and went on to tie the boy to a tree with a rope.

Moyo then allegedly raped the two girls as the boy was watching and screaming for help.

Moyo appeared for initial remand before Plumtree magistrate Livard Philemon facing two counts of rape yesterday.

He was remanded in custody to February 6.

Prosecuting, Elisha Mazorodze said Moyo raped the two girls while holding a knife as a way to force them into submission.

He alleged that he tied the boy to a tree to stop him from escaping to seek help.

"The three juveniles were walking from school and met Moyo who lives in the same neighbourhood as theirs. He led them into a bush and ordered the two girls to lie down while he tied their school mate to a tree," said Mazorodze.

He said Moyo, who was armed with a knife, threatened to stab the girls if they attempted to flee.

He then raped them twice each, one after the other.

Mazorodze said Moyo then fled and left the three children in the bush.

He said the two girls rushed to a nearby homestead where they alerted villagers who untied the boy.

The matter was reported to the police and Moyo was arrested after he was separately identified by the three children.

Moyo also appeared before the same magistrate facing unlawful entry and theft charges and was sentenced to nine months' imprisonment.