Claim: DNA tests conducted by the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) have exonerated three males for raping and impregnating a 9-year-old girl from Tsholotsho.
Source: Social Media
A social media post which went viral claimed that DNA tests conducted by NUST had exonerated three males including the father of the 9-year-old Tsholotsho who was raped and impregnated.
The girl has since given birth to a baby girl.
Police have since launched investigations to find the culprit.
“A new twist has emerged in the puzzle of trying to unlock who the father of the child born by the 9year old Tsholotsho girl after DNA results showed that the father of the 9year old girl was not the father of her child.
DNA tests extensively conducted by the National University of Science and Technology on three male suspects who are relatives of the parents of the 9-year-old girl including the father came out negative. This means all three suspects are exonerated as biological fathers of the child.
This development means the search for the suspect who impregnated the Grade 3 pupil continues,” the post read.
Have the investigations been concluded?
In an article published by The Chronicle newspaper on 25 November 2022, titled, “Pregnant 9-year-old: DNA tests not yet concluded” NUST Applied Genetic Testing Centre (AGTC) dismissed reports that they had concluded tests to establish who impregnated the 9-year-old girl.
“We don’t know who generated that message, it can be disruptive to the investigation. We are yet to conclude our tests and we request that we be allowed to do work without any sideshows. What is the intention of sending such incorrect information before investigations are concluded,” said AGTC director Mr Zephaniah Dhlamini.
Background
According to the police, they received a report on 30 August 2022 that an eight-year-old girl from Masekesa Village under Chief Gampu had been raped. She was already seven months pregnant. The child was taken for a medical which revealed the pregnancy.
She was transferred to the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) where she later gave birth through caesarean section.
There are only six known cases in Africa where a child of nine years or younger gave birth – one in Senegal, one Kenyan, a Namibian, a South African and two Nigerians.
The record is held by Lina Media from Peru, who gave birth aged five years and seven months in 1939. Medina’s father was arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse, but was later released due to lack of evidence, and the baby’s biological father was never identified.
Conclusion
The DNA tests to establish who sexually violated and impregnated the 9-year-old are yet to be concluded.
