LUPANE — A 69-year-old man from Gudubhu village facing allegations of fondling a 12-year-old schoolgirl, was on Friday further remanded to today for the continuation of trial.
Lazarus Ndlovu is alleged to have on several occasions intercepted the girl on her way to school and fondled her saying she was his “wife”. Ndlovu has not yet been asked to plead to indecent assault charges and is out of custody on $200 bail.
He was ordered not to interfere with the witness and not to visit her home until the case is finalised. Lupane magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba postponed the case after a female teacher at the complainant’s school testified.
The court heard that sometime between December last year and January, the teacher of the Grade Five girl noticed the pupil had started coming late to school, something unusual for her.
It is the State case that the teacher later asked the girl why she was coming to school late and she is alleged to have told her that she was now using a longer route to avoid Ndlovu who was stopping and indecently assaulting her.
The court heard that the girl said Ndlovu had abused her on several occasions.
She told her teacher she feared the old man and would not tell her parents what was happening to her.
The school authorities later reported the matter to the police, leading to Ndlovu’s arrest.
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Testifying in court, the teacher said when she asked the girl why she was coming to school late, she told her the old man was abusing her.
The teacher said each time they tried to ask more questions, the girl would cry.
The girl’s grandmother is also expected to testify today.
Sanders Sibanda is prosecuting .
