In a heart-rending incident a 19-year-old man allegedly applied petroleum jelly on his cousin’s private parts before he sexually attacked her.
The rape incident that has become a subject of discussion in Gwabalanda suburb happened last week on Wednesday.
A family insider who spoke to B-Metro on condition of anonymity said the young man called the minor into his bedroom and tricked her to lie on the bed facing upwards.
“The minor was watching television with her grandmother when he lured her to his bedroom where he played with her for a few minutes. He then told the minor to lie on the bed facing upwards after which he applied petroleum jelly on her private parts and raped her without protection,” said the family insider.
After the ordeal the 19-year-old warned the minor never to tell anyone about the incident.
“The minor never told anyone,” said the family member.
The source went on to say on 13 August the young man used the same modus operandi to rape the minor. However, he was caught in the act.
“His grandmother fell asleep while watching television with the minor in the living room. The teenager then called the minor to his bedroom, he caressed her and applied petroleum jelly on her private parts after which he raped her. But his time around he was caught in the act by his grandmother who unexpectedly walked in. He jumped off and left the minor half naked on the bed,” said the family member.
The grandmother examined the minor before she reported the matter to a police station.
“The minor revealed that this was the second occasion to be sexually assaulted by her cousin. Thereafter the granny made a police report at Luveve Police Station leading to the arrest of the minor’s cousin,” said the family insider.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident: “We urge community members to be wary of their relatives and always keep a watchful eye on the minors and never sweep any case of rape under the carpet. Rape victims should report to police as soon as possible so that they get medication.”
-bmetro