By A Correspondent- A naked vendor has been arrested after he was caught in the process of trying to rape a 14-year-old teenager in a bushy area.

The minor cannot be named for ethical reasons.

According to a source the minor left home on Monday and went to Renkini bus terminus intending to travel to Nkayi.

She arrived at Renkini at around 12PM after the buses had departed.

The source close to investigations said:

“As Bhekimpilo Moyo (27) was moving around selling his wares at the terminus, he met the 14-year-old minor, sitting in a shade. The minor told him that she wanted to travel to Nkayi, but she had no money and when she arrived the buses had already departed. Due to that she was stranded.”

Moyo, the source said, offered to help her and the teenager fell for the bait.

“He promised to give her a place to sleep and bus fare to travel to her rural area the next day. The minor waited for him until 06:30PM and they left, intending to go to his home in Emganwini suburb,” said the source.

According to the source, at around 7PM, a security guard spotted Moyo and the 14-year-old minor walking along a foot path which passes behind a church near Ross Camp.

The security guard followed them.

“Moyo led the minor into a bushy area which is near the church and when they reached an area with long grass they stopped. Moyo removed his jacket and laid it on the ground, he then removed his trousers and underwear and ordered the minor to lie on the ground facing upwards.

He removed her panty, but when he was about to rape her the security guard emerged from the bush and tried to grab him but missed him,” said the source.

Moyo, the source said, picked up his trousers and underwear and took to his heels. The security guard gave chase and caught up with him.

“He hand-cuffed him and took him to Mzilikazi police station. The minor made a report at the police station, stating that Moyo forced her to go to the bush with him to have sex in exchange for bus fare and a place to sleep,” said the source.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube confirmed the incident:

“We arrested a man who tried to rape a minor. We would like to thank the security guard who helped in arresting the accused. We would also like to urge members of the public to be on high alert for people who might take advantage of them when they are faced with a problem.”-statemedia