A former head boy, now a taxi driver, revealed alarming details about six students who booked a lodge in Chitungwiza last week with the intention of engaging in sexual activities.
The driver, who recognized some of the students from his former school while transporting them to Royal Guest Lodge, promptly notified the authorities.
The group included three girls from Excel College and three boys from Pathway College, who had chosen to skip classes for their meeting.
It was later discovered that two of the girls met their partners for the first time on the day of the incident, which is suspected to have been arranged by other students.
Police have since apprehended a 19-year-old male who is currently assisting with the investigation. The girls were taken for medical examinations and later released into the custody of their parents.
Additionally, Christabel Muchemwa, a 36-year-old employee of the lodge, was arrested for permitting the students to book rooms, despite many of them being underage.
In a statement, the principal of one of the involved schools expressed sympathy for the parents, emphasizing that the students had not left campus during school hours.
“The parents are heartbroken, but it’s important to clarify that this incident is neither their fault nor ours,” the principal stated.
“The students did not escape from school; they left home pretending to attend classes, which begin at 7:30 AM.”
The principal revealed that the scheme was initiated by the 19-year-old from Pathway College and two of his classmates.
“This trio is primarily responsible since they covered the lodge fees,” the principal added.
The whistleblower, a former head boy, informed school authorities about the situation immediately after dropping the students off at the lodge.
“After dropping them off, he hurried to notify us, as he is familiar with our schedules and disciplinary standards,” the principal explained.
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Rather than intervening directly, the school chose to inform the police to protect the safety of the students and the institution’s reputation.
“We are grateful for the swift response from the police, which led to the arrest of a lodge employee,” the principal remarked.
The principal also refuted circulating rumors on social media that labeled the incident as a “sex party.”
“I want to clarify that this was not a sex party. Even the police did not mention our schools to protect the students,” he said, expressing concern over the media’s sensationalism of the event.
“It’s unfortunate that this matter has gained so much attention that it has become a topic of discussion everywhere.”
Meanwhile, parents of the students are expected to attend a counseling session today to address trauma.
Sources revealed that organizations specializing in counseling services have been enlisted to support the parents. Additionally, there are plans for a public campaign aimed at discouraging lodges from accepting bookings from underage clients.
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