Serial rapist, Agnoris Macheche prey on Rupange primary school pupils

Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe President  Takavafira Zhou has said  he  battled with thoughts over the abuse of a girl because of ethics involved but after serious considerations decided to blow the trumpet in order to serve the girl-child in Mberengwa in particular and Zimbabwe in general.

He said as a trade unionist, educationist and human rights defender, he saw it fit to use my knowledge to name and shame evil.

"A predatory rapist has been pouncing on Rupange primary school pupils after using bait of 50c or some sweets. Several pupils ranging from grade O to grade 3 have been raped by a notorious korokosa, Agnoris Macheche. Macheche has been so cruel that he did not even spare the daughters of his own close relatives who are minors (names withheld) and last Thursday was caught ready-handed by a close relative immediately after raping her child and bolted out of the homestead," he said.

"He allegedly raped another close relative who is a minor and pupil at Rupange primary last year. He was tracked to the gold-pits, apprehended and brought to the police base at Bvute on Monday (27/3/2017). However, the behavior of police officers at Bvute leaves a lot to be desired. In spite of the fact that Agnoris allegedly confessed to raping two of his relatives who are minors and several other pupils learning at Rupange, the police ordered the mother of the latest victim to go and report the case at Mberengwa Administrative centre, a distance of about 40km, yet the mother had no money."

He said with a minor child who could hardly walk, the mother had to walk a distance of about 10km from Rupange to Yorke.

"I was driving from my village around Chegato, and knowing Rupange uniform and as someone leading a teachers' organization (Ptuz), I stopped my car suspecting that the mother may have stolen a child as she was heading in the opposite direction from Rupange. After learning about the ordeal I gave the mother a lift and took her direct to Mberengwa police camp where I saw the officer commanding and launched a complaint on the behavior of police over a serious case of rape of minors," he said.

"What was surprising was that when the officer commanding phoned one of his officers over the case he was not even apologetic, even lied that they were still looking for the culprit when in actual fact the culprit had long been apprehended. On further interrogation he even switched off his phone. This police officer based at Bvute had even driven his own car to Vanguard area, yet he could not assist a victim and mother who desperately needed assistance to Mberengwa administrative centre. I am even afraid that with the way some police officers are after money the rapist could grease their hands and evade justice. Why the police would not assist a victim, and let alone take the perpetrator to Mberengwa remains a mystery to me."

He said cases of rape and murder have increased greatly in Mberengwa because of rogue artisanal miners (makorokosa) who connive with some police officers to evade justice.

"It is surprising that police officers at Mberengwa had to send a car to apprehend cattle rustlers instead of the raped minor and her mother. Are cattle real more important than human beings, I wonder? All the same it is my hope that the officer commanding Mberengwa Administrative centre police station will pursue the rape cases to their logical conclusion and ensure that the culprit is brought to book. A threat to justice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Cry the beloved people of Mberengwa," he said.