Residents of New Magwegwe in Bulawayo are living in fear due to the actions of a local gold panner, Shepherd Mathe, 24, who has been @ccus3d of h@r@ssing women and threatening v!olence.
Mathe was reportedly f0ndling women and demanding money to buy alcohol, threatening to st@b anyone who refused him.
A 48-year-old woman recounted her experience: “While I was at the shops, Shepherd approached me, commenting on my body. When I said I didn’t have money for beer, he grabbed me and f0ndled me.”
Another woman, who asked to remain anonymous, shared a similar story with B Metro: “As I was going to the shops, he demanded money. When I told him I didn’t have any, he insulted me and called me a pr0st!tute.”
A teenage girl in Form Six at a local high school reported that Mathe solicited sex from her while she was leaving the shops. “He asked to have s3x, and when I refused, he t@pped my behind,” she said, adding that men nearby intervened to help her.
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An elderly woman claimed Mathe robbed her of a dollar while she was on her way to buy bread. “He demanded money, and I had to give him my last dollar. He then threatened to k!ll me if I told anyone,” she said, expressing fear for her safety.
Shop owners in the area noted that Mathe’s behavior has driven customers away. “People avoid coming here because he h@r@sses them for money and makes unwanted advances towards women. We reported him to the Magwegwe Police,” one shop owner said.
A male resident added that they feel unsafe when Mathe is nearby due to his threats. “We move away when he shows up because he carries a knife and threatens anyone who confronts him,” he said.
In response to the situation, some residents suggested that background checks should be performed on new tenants to prevent individuals with criminal records from moving into the community. “We need to know who is living among us to keep our neighborhood safe,” a resident urged.
Shepherd Mathe has since been arr3sted following these incidents, as the community seeks to regain a sense of security.
