Virginity testing saga continues

AT least three villagers at Killspring Farm where "virginity tests" were reportedly carried out on pupils allegedly raped Grade Six and Seven pupils and each paid a goat to buy their parents' silence.

Two men have also been sentenced to prison terms of 20 years each after Tsetse Primary School's Child Protection Committee was able to prove, through medical doctors, that they had sexually abused the children.

The issue came to light yesterday during a meeting that was attended by scores of villagers at Killspring Farm in West Acre, about 27 kilometres along the Bulawayo-Plumtree Road.

Emotional villagers said the people who leaked the "virginity tests" story to Chronicle had misrepresented facts because they were among the culprits.

Others demanded to know the identities of the people who leaked the story, saying they were enemies of progress, who should be removed from the village.

"Whoever sent that story to Chronicle has something to hide. Before we start, with the permission of parents here gathered, I would like to say teachers and Childline officials were not involved in the said tests, which were carried out to ascertain the extent of injuries suffered by children who we thought were victims of physical abuse," said the Tsetse Primary School Child Protection Committee vice-chairperson, Mr Fanuel Mlilo.

He said no child was examined in front of others and parents never attacked teachers over the issue.

A committee member, Mrs Nothando Nkomo, said the committee was asked by parents to investigate all cases of abuse and their findings had resulted in three men being arrested between December and February this year.

"We are passionate about the children. We are happy to announce that through our investigations, three men (names withheld) who sexually abused children between six and seven years old and paid goats as compensation to their parents will soon be facing justice," said Mrs Nkomo to applause from villagers.

She said the issue came to light after doctors examined the children who were always withdrawn in class.

Mrs Nkomo said the committee had been able to get the services of the doctors, from Nyamandlovu, through the social welfare office in Bulawayo after parents requested them to do so.

"Two men (names also withheld) have each been sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping children. One, an uncle, sexually abused his six-year-old niece over a period of time while another abused his neighbour's eight-year-old daughter. A third is in          remand prison for a similar offence,"              she said, providing the committee's           minute book to prove that the cases were recorded.

Mrs Phumuzile Sibanda, a villager, said she was angry that someone had lied about the good work that was being done by the committee.

"People rape children and pay a goat in compensation. How does this help the child, who may get infected with HIV or be traumatised for the rest of her life? As a parent, I say the committee is the best thing to ever happen in this community. Children should be protected at all costs," said Mrs Sibanda.

Another villager, Mr Jonathan Dube, said he was happy that the doctor examined his daughter.

"I now know that she has not been abused. If she had been and had contracted HIV, I would have wanted to know while it was still early so that I seek necessary medical attention and the culprit gets punished," said Mr Dube.

The village head, Mr Pascar Baloyi (72), said the medical examinations were a result of an agreement between parents, who were concerned about the welfare of their children.

"Someone deliberately lied to cover up something. Ever since parents built this school, there has been stiff opposition from people who want to abuse children. "Imagine, the nearest schools were about 27 kilometres away in Figtree and parents decided to build this school. The villager or villagers who lied about this want this school to shut down so that they can waylay children and rape them over the longer distances. They want to destroy the good work done by parents in building five classrooms to accommodate 245 children," said village head Baloyi.

The meeting ended with angry parents demanding to know the name(s) of the informants in the first story published on Monday.

"I say these people should be named and shamed because they have dragged the good name of the community through the mud," said Mrs Siphangisile Ndlovu.