Residents of an area under Village Head Ntambalika in Blantyre’s Ndirande Township woke up to a rude awakening on Sunday night after their chief bust a ‘brothel’ of children aged between 12 and 14 used as a sexual hideout.
Information gathered from witnesses indicated that the children used a house inherited by 12-year-old boy who is said to be a leader of a youth cult called “Terminators”.
According to Ntambalika, this is not the first time for her to uncover the malpractice as late last year she also took to task about 30 youths who were engaging in sexual intercourse with girls.
She said what raised an alarm this time around was a report from one parent that her 12-year-old girl had gone missing for two days.
Said Ntambalika: “Last night [Sunday], at around 9pm, I was woken up by parents who came to report the disappearance of their daughter from their home. After the parents had explained, I ordered members of the community policing to do a round-up search right away.
“There have been several cases of children disappearing from their homes and going out to do sexual activities at this house which is referred to as ‘terminator house’ and the men went there straight and found the little girl hiding under a bed. There were also several other children.”
The chief said the same night, the community policing members were taken from one house to another by the captured children who identified their accomplices who patronise the ‘brothel’.
She said over 15 children were hunted down as those that go to the house and they were taken to her (the chief) house for disciplinary right away.
Ntalimanja said she then summoned the children’s parents and guardians to discipline the children at her house and agree on what course of action will be taken if the children are caught in the act again.
“When the parents came, I asked them what problems they have at their homes that would force the children to participate in such sexual escapades at such a tender age, all of them were blank. I just advised them to provide their children with the necessities,” she said.
Ntalimanja has since faulted the owner of the house for giving a house to a boy of 12 so it could be used for sexual activities.
She said several times had she summoned the parents to warn them to stop accommodating other people’s children but to no avail.
A father who came to take his daughter home was at a loss for words and he almost burst into tears while asking his daughter what she lacks at home that she finds at the ‘brothel’.
A mother of a 14-year-old girl said her daughter, a member of the ‘terminator’ crew, confided in her that as part of initiating a new female member in the crew, all the male members sleep with her and after that, she is free to have a partner within the group.
In an interview yesterday, Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati expressed shock that some parents could give a house to their child so it could be used for such activities.
The minister said it is high time people refrained from such ill-behaviour as it leads to increased cases of HIV and Aids.
She said she will make sure the issue is taken further and the parents are questioned on the matter as regards.
