Friday, February 24, 2023 – A teenage girl was shot and injured in the thigh while running away from a man who attempted to sexually abuse her at a dam in Empandeni, Mangwe district of Zimbabwe.
Empandeni Ward 1 Councillor, Bernard Tshuma, said the girl who is a Form Four student at Empandeni Secondary School, was in the company of her teenage sister when they were attacked.
They reportedly went to the dam to take photos when the man who wore a black jacket while on a bicycle, pounced on them. He started fondling the teenage girl’s sister’s breasts, while she fled. The man shouted to stop her from running, but when she didn’t stop, he fired two shots in the air. The third shot was aimed at the girl, and he injured her in the thigh. The girl is currently receiving treatment at a local clinic, and the medical staff attending to her said that she will heal.
Police in Matabeleland South Province confirmed the incident but could not provide specific details on the case. The man responsible for the attempted assault has not yet been caught, and local authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information they may have.
Empandeni Ward 1 Councillor, Bernard Tshuma, expressed concern about the safety of children in the community, especially young girls. He hopes that justice will be served and that the environment will become safer for everyone.