Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara, Zimpapers Writer
A 37-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for kidnapping a 15-year-old girl, plying her with alcohol until she got drunk, before raping her overnight at his home.
Sandile Ncube of Nketa 7 was convicted of kidnapping and rape when he appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Archie Wochiunga facing rape charges.
In passing sentence, the magistrate described the crimes as heinous and premeditated, saying Ncube betrayed the girl’s trust after posing as a helpful stranger.
Prosecuting, Mr Owen Mugari told the court the ordeal began on July 21, around 6PM, when Ncube encountered the complainant crying at Nketa 6 Shopping Centre after she lost a shoe while running an errand and was distraught.
He offered help and took her to his nearby house in Nketa 7, where he detained her for the entire night, with her guardians, her grandparents, initially aware of her location.
“Once there, Ncube gave the girl alcohol and she became heavily intoxicated. The accused then took advantage of the complainant’s drunkenness and raped her throughout the night,” Mugari said.
Upon noticing that the girl was not at home, her grandparents filed a missing person report at the police station.
The following day, the girl returned home. When her worried grandparents quizzed her about the previous night — having expected her home much earlier — she broke down and narrated the full ordeal, including the alcohol and rape.
The matter was reported to police, leading to Ncube’s arrest.
