A 30-year-old woman from Buhera, Pelagia Zindiye, has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for human trafficking after luring a 14-year-old girl to Mutare for pr0stitution. The conviction was handed down by a Mutare Magistrate court on Wednesday.

According to prosecution, Zindiye deceived the minor on June 29, convincing her to travel to Mutare under the pretense of collecting property. The following day, the victim secretly left home and accompanied Zindiye to Mutare, where they met a truck driver, Steward Gororo, who remains at large.

Zindiye handed the victim over to Gororo and received US$40 as payment for the girl’s s3xual services. Gororo subsequently took the girl to a restaurant, locked her in a private room, and s3xually assaulted her. The victim later confided in Zindiye, who instructed her to keep silent about the incident. Police investigations, initiated after a tip-off, led to Zindiye’s arrest. Gororo is still being sought by authorities.

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