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INHABITANTS of Jinx Town, located between Chegutu and Selous, are up in arms against Headman Kandira, who stands accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.

Further, the traditional leader reportedly subjects his alleged minor lover and her brother only identified as Felix (15) to child abuse.

The troubling allegations surfaced when Felix reported witnessing his sister only identified as Thelma being sexually abused by Kandira after which she fell pregnant and tested HIV positive.

In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com, Felix claimed that Chief Kandira started forcing himself on Thelma, shortly after their aunt left for South Africa in September 2024.

“When Kandira returned from dropping my aunt off at the bus stop, he called my sister into his room and locked the door.

“My sister then came out and informed me that he had slept with her and was fondling her. I didn’t do anything because I thought she was lying; she didn’t know anything.

“On the second day, she told me again that he had made her sleep with him, and I advised her to take a phone, next time to record the conversations.

“Then on day three, I saw it myself when he entered the toilet where she was and forced himself on her. I suggested that we should inform the elders about the matter,” recounted Felix.

Felix said he was chased away from Kandira’s homestead by dogs and axes after confronting him about his abuse of his sister. The minor boy later sought help from local leaders and the police.

“When Kandira found out that I knew about the matter, he chased me away from his house and told me to go to my mother.

“I told him she lived far away and that I didn’t have the money to go. He then chased me away threatening to axe me. He also unleashed dogs and I fled the house that evening, running for my life and slept in the bush.

“I woke up and headed to Headman Manene, where I told him everything, then went on to inform Mai Matwe, who then told Thelma’s teacher.

“The teacher recorded audios on her phone while Thelma narrated the whole ordeal, and after that, the matter was taken to other local Chiefs.

“I then went to Mai Fayi’s home, where she kept me for two days. After that, I went to someone else’s house, and we went to the police station where I recorded my statement and told them everything,” said Felix.

After informing the police, Felix met friends who told him Kandira was searching for him. He fled to Shoko’s shop, where he overheard that a friend was arrested for allegedly causing Thelma’s pregnancy.

“I met with my friends while I had been left in a police van and they told me Kandira was looking for me the whole night with torches and machetes and I made a run for it and went to Mr. Shoko’s shop to seek refuge.

“While I was there, I overheard people saying my friend Ngoni had been arrested for impregnating my sister, I then left and returned to the woman who had helped me go to the police the first time.

“I told her that Ngoni shouldn’t be arrested because the person who was sleeping with Thelma was Kandara. She then called the police again, confirming that I had been found,” said Felix.

The police have since confirmed that Thelma is pregnant and tested positive for HIV.

“We were summoned by the Norton Rural Police, who informed us about the matter. They said the girl gave them her statement and explained everything that happened, including the fondling and the subsequent sexual intercourse.

“Police also investigated by taking her to Norton Hospital to see if she was still a virgin, but they discovered that she was already pregnant. They conducted an HIV test, and she was found to be positive”, said Chief Ngorima

Headman Kandira was hauled into police custody, appeared in court and released into the custody of his lawyer.

“Kandira was granted bail in this matter, and we asked if it was possible for someone to obtain bail in a case like this, but there was nothing we could do because he had his own lawyer who helped him secure it,” said Chief Netain Chibanda.

Headman Manene, also indicated that it was still a shocker to them because the victim was still staying at the accused’s homestead.

“We were shocked by what one of us did. We had heard people talking about the abuses these kids were facing, but we didn’t do anything, as we told ourselves that what’s hidden will always come out.

“I personally believed that Kandira was abusive when I would see this boy herding cattle to the dip tank in the morning before he went to school, and he would always leave for school late at 10am.

“We just want the law to help by extracting her from Kandira’s place for safekeeping. What’s shocking is that if they are denying that Kandira was the one who impregnated her, why are they still keeping her there?

“It is also shocking that this girl is being threatened with death if she admits that Kandira was responsible for the pregnancy and the transmission of HIV to her,” said Chief Manene.

A village health worker, Julianna Manhenhe expressed concern over the impact on Thelma’s education stating she had a donor who was paying for her fees.

“Thelma once came to me, saying that she was being treated poorly. Ever since she started writing her Grade 7 examinations, she would visit the fields to plough and was only released when she reached her target.

“She didn’t want to be late, so she secretly spoke to a gentleman in the area about her challenge of arriving late for her exams. This person assisted her with transportation whenever she finished working in the fields and needed to go for her examinations until she completed them.

“I am puzzled by this situation because my work is to help children who don’t go to school by finding donors to assist them. Thelma was helped and provided with everything by that donor, while Kandira didn’t contribute anything—he only abused her.

“I don’t even know what to tell the donor now that Thelma is pregnant and not attending school, especially since the donor had paid her school fees for the entire year and was prepared to cover her expenses until she gets to Form 4”, said Manhenhe.

As tensions rise in Jinx Town, local leaders have asserted that they will now be on high alert and punish sexual offenders regardless of their status.