Mozambique: Neighbours prevent ‘lobolo’ of 8-year-old with her alleged rapist – Watch

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Mozambique: Neighbours prevent ‘lobolo’ of 8-year-old with her alleged rapist – Watch

2:00 CAT | 19 Mar 2025

Screen grab: Miramar

A lobolo ceremony, intended to formalize a union between a girl aged only eight years old and a 47-year-old man, was abruptly interrupted by neighbours in the neighbourhood of Boquisso, Matola municipality.

The supposedly cultural celebration turned into an act of resistance by the community against practices of premature unions and sexual abuse of children.

According to information released by TV Miramar, the recent sexual abuse of the girl lead to the arrest of the aggressor, who was taken to the police station, where he remained for a few hours.

After his release, the man contacted the victim’s family with a proposal to formalize the child’s lobolo as a way of paying an alleged fine for his behaviour.

On Sunday morning, the child’s family was preparing to welcome the “masseves” [relatives of the aggressor], unaware of the climate of resistance building up in the neighbourhood.

As the lobolo ceremony approached, the group of outraged residents invaded the house, sabotaging the ceremony and denouncing what they considered a destructive and morally unacceptable practice. Furthermore, they demand tat justice is done on this case.

This act of community intervention was widely applauded by many, who see the community’s defence of this child as a sign of hope in the fight against the normalization of practices that violate children’s rights.

The incident highlights the urgent need for greater awareness and effective policies to protect minors from abuse and forced unions.

Miramar further reports that the child, who was reportedly raped on her way to school were she attends grade 4, is to undergo medical examination on the 25th of this month {next Tuesday] at the José Macamo hospital, and that the alleged offender is currently missing.

The child was reportedly raped o March 11,

Watch the Miramar report.