Sexually assaulted mentally ill victim in dilemma as he goes for psychiatric check
Sexually assaulted mentally ill victim in dilemma as he goes for psychiatric check
October 22, 2023
Choice News Africa Correspondent
Nyamandlovu – Fair Justice delivery remain the only hope for a mentally challenged juvenile Shepherd Moyo of Nyamandlovu whom the state has recently send for a psychiatric examination following his sexual attack by a 75 year old village political leader.
All this took place in a July, developing a case that left the normally peaceful Ngoma community shell shocked because many of such cases die prematurely because of intimidation thereby swept under the carpet for fear of political muscles usually held by the perpetrator.
The aggravated Indecent assault incident is now creating the dilemma for the juvenile, because usually cases of mentally ill persons are not treated with the gravity that persons with disabilities would have gone through at the hands of an evil society.
The sexual abuse case was reported at the Police under ZRP Nyamandlovu CR44/07/23 and ByoR583/23, whose trial has since commenced in Bulawayo.
It remain a litmus test to measure the degree of protection on offer to persons with disabilities by the society and the laws of the land.
Shepherd Moyo a victim of an invading sex starved old aged lady, suffered emotionally, physically and morally as sexual appetite for his predator was evil driven causing the innocent mentally ill juvenile to be send for a psychiatric examination in Bulawayo.
“The Medical Doctor gave me a paper to write my name that I managed but failed to do the mathematics.” Said Shepherd.
His grandmother Polina Ndlovu told Choice News Africa in tearsthat all went well at the medical Institution.
“Shepherd went through a mental status examination smoothly. He was asked to write his name that he managed but failed on mathematical numbers. I also narrated Shepherd’s upbringing history that the Medical Doctor took some notes.” Said Gogo Ndlovu.
She said that Shepherd’s mental ill health was discovered at a tender age of three months.
“Shepherd at the age three months was not able to sit like any other children of his age.
He would walk with the aide of supporting sticks for balance when he was two years old we realisded that he had difficulties in speech. We sent him to school up to grade three, where he would walk out of class during lessons to play.
That showed us that my grandson was not mentally fit.” Narrated Polina
She also said that the case took a toll order on her life with a hope to see justice taking its course.
“My wish and prayer is to see justice taking its course. I am not worried whether Emeri is going to be discharged or sentenced to a jail term.
What is important is for the law to send a strong message to would be like minted persons. It is our responsibility as society to protect persons with disabilities, not to be subjected to abuse by elderly people who are supposed to be their guardians.” Grandmother added.
Pick Nkomwa, founder of a Matabeleland South based organisation that deal with persons with disability, condemned the abuse of the young boy strongly, and appealed for fair justice delivery for the case.
