Kidnapped Trans Preacher Found Sleeping on Road
The Bulawayo community was left in a state of shock and disbelief this past weekend as a transgender woman, who was previously kidnapped, was found in a disturbing situation on the streets of the city.
The woman, known as Sunflower, used to be a church preacher but had fallen victim to a harrowing ordeal. According to a close source, Sunflower was found intoxicated and sleeping on the road, much to the surprise of the women around her who initially thought it was a man in disguise.
Sunflower’s mother was called to the scene and provided clothing to dress her daughter, as the community grappled with the unexpected turn of events.
This incident comes several weeks after Sunflower, whose real name is Chayelle Cathro, went missing on June 28 in Harare, the country’s capital. Cathro, a Bulawayo resident, had reserved an Airbnb in Harare’s Avonlea neighborhood before going to the Eclipse nightclub with an unknown assailant.
On July 3, Cathro was dumped in a remote area along the Bulawayo Road in the Harare suburb of Norton. She then walked 29 miles to the offices of GALZ, an association of LGBTI people in Zimbabwe, where she spent the night.
In a press release, Cathro’s family stated that she “was abducted, taken advantage of, and left in a remote area after a night out with friends. She was abducted by someone claiming he would take her to the Airbnb when she was inebriated. He did not take her home but instead robbed and sexually assaulted her.”
The shocking incident has left the Bulawayo community shaken, with many expressing their disbelief and concern for Sunflower’s well-being. The case has raised questions about the safety and security of the LGBTI community in Zimbabwe, and the need for greater protection and support for transgender individuals.
As the investigation into Sunflower’s ordeal continues, the community hopes that the authorities will bring the perpetrators to justice and ensure that such incidents do not happen again in the future.
