By A Correspondent- A 24 year old man from Sizinda suburb in Bulawayo allegedly played with a five-year-old in his rented room while touching her private parts before he raped her and infected her with a sexually-transmitted infection (STI).

After the rape incident the minor stuck to what she was told by the alleged paedophile. However, his cover was blown open when the minor started to suffer pain and itching in her private parts. As a result she walked with difficulty, which raised eyebrows to her mother and family members.

Her concerned mother questioned her and she spilled the beans.

“To her mother’s shock she revealed that she was raped by the 24-year-old tenant on the day she was sent to collect a cup in his room. It got her mother emotionally drained as the minor told her that her private parts were painful and itching. Upon examining her she discovered that her private parts were swollen,” said a source.

The minor was taken to hospital and it was discovered she was infected with an STI.

The matter was reported to a police station leading to the arrest of the 24-year-old accused.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said: “We are worried about cases of rape which we receive almost every week. We urge community members not to trust anyone because anyone has a potential of raping a child. In the same vein I would like to urge rape victims to make a report within 72 hours so that they can get post-exposure prophylaxis.”

-statemedia