By Fanuel Chinowaita
Tendai Lynnet Mudehwe
MUTARE – African-Bantu Identity Advocates (ABIA) and the Manicaland Passengers Association (MAPs) have raised alarm over rising cases of sexual misconduct involving school children in public transport and called on authorities to urgently act to protect the dignity of the girl child.
In a petition dated 30 September 2025 addressed to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Manicaland Transporters Associations and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), the organisations said they were disturbed by a growing practice among schoolchildren known as “collab,” where boys carry girls on their laps in commuter buses.
ABIA Director and MAPs Coordinator Ms. Tendai Lynnet Mudehwe said the practice was exposing children to sexual activities inside public transport.
“The most disturbing habit that has prompted us as an organisation and concerned community is the boy child carrying the girl child on their legs and they call it ‘collab’. Sexual activities are being done in these collaborations,” she said.
Mudehwe also expressed concern that many commuter buses used by students had tinted windows, loud music and were often driven by young drivers and conductors, some of whom allegedly engaged in sexual relationships with minors in school uniforms.
The organisations appealed for stronger measures including: Holding transport operators accountable if their employees tolerate such behaviour.
Training public transport crews on sexual abuse and related issues.
Ensuring all public transport operators are registered associations for effective monitoring.
Increased police vigilance at roadblocks, particularly when students travel home.
Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to promote safer transportation and support schools with guidance and counselling.
Establishment of a community taskforce to monitor and curb sexual abuse, misconduct, substance abuse and bullying among students.
“Looking forward to your cordial and prompt responses. In Ubuntu we say, ‘It takes a community to raise a child and it’s everyone’s child’,” the petition read.