HARARE – Police in Wedza have arrested five teenagers over a viral video showing a naked young woman being repeatedly assaulted with sticks.
Police apprehended the five after launching a public appeal.
In a statement on Thursday, national police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi named the victim as 18-year-old Mavis Mada of Mupfuuri village. She was beaten over several hours until she fell unconscious.
“Investigations have revealed that on July 4, 2024, at 11AM, the victim was lured by Rudo Manjere, 17, Lilly Rose Munyoro, 16, and Lilian Chido Munyoro, 17, to 19-year-old Vimbai Mike’s homestead on the pretext that they wanted to give her vegetable seedlings. The suspects locked the victim in one of the huts and stripped her naked,” Nyathi said.
“The five suspects took turns to assault the victim with switches and went on to insert three sticks into the victim’s privates while recording a video. The victim’s fell unconscious and the suspects poured water on her before freeing her still naked at 3PM.”
Nyathi said police had recovered the Vivo mobile phone used to film the incident.
The motive for the brutal assault has not been disclosed.
Vimbai Mike remains in police custody while the other four were released into the custody of their parents awaiting a court hearing because they are juveniles.
Mada is being treated for her injuries at Mount St Mary’s Hospital, Nyathi said.
