HIV+ boy rapes 7 pupils

A fourteen-year-old HIV positive schoolboy from Makonde District enrolled into Grade 2, sexually abused at least seven girls aged between four and seven years while on their way from school, raising fears that the girls could have contracted HIV.

According to media reports, the boy who cannot be named because of his age and HIV status, had never been to school when he was adopted by a local non-governmental organisation and enrolled at a local primary school.

The teenager was enrolled into Grade 2 together with children who were way younger than him, so that he could start at an elementary stage.

However, it later emerged that the teenager would abuse the girls who were between Early Childhood Development and Grade 3 stages, while on their way home from school.

The matter came to light during a routine Family Club meeting organised by Pamuhacha HIV and Aids Prevention Project where parenting, family health, culture and traditions are discussed.

Investigations have shown that the boy's father and stepmother are mentally challenged and that he had at one time been taken to a relative where he was herding cattle.

The juvenile has since appeared before Chinhoyi regional magistrate Mr Felix Mawadze, who found him guilty on five counts of rape and sentenced him to three years probation at Kadoma Training Institute.