Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
A 33-year-old Gwanda man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for raping his eight-year-old niece.
The man, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, pleaded not guilty to rape but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence by Gwanda Regional Magistrate, Ms Sithembiso Ndebele. He was caught in the act by his sister.
Prosecuting, Ms Zanele Sithole said the accused raped the complainant while she was at her home.
“On 26 February, the accused arrived at the complainant’s home, where he found her playing with her brother outside. He sent the boy on an errand and remained alone with the complainant.
“Thereafter, he took the complainant into the kitchen and raped her. He further took the complainant to a nearby tree and started fondling her private parts.
“The accused was found in the act by the complainant’s mother, and he fled. The matter was reported to the police, resulting in the arrest of the accused,” she said.
In passing her sentence, the magistrate noted the significant age difference between the complainant and the accused, which is 25 years.
She emphasised that the complainant, being eight years old, was particularly vulnerable. Ms Ndebele stated that the accused, as the complainant’s uncle, was supposed to protect her but instead harmed her.
“The accused is an uncle to the complainant, which means he was supposed to protect her but went on to harm her.
What is aggravating is the fact that the complainant is eight years old, making her vulnerable. There is also a huge age difference of 25 years between the complainant and the accused. The mother of the complainant, who gave her evidence in court, also stated that the incident had crushed her as she didn’t expect her own brother to do such a thing. She also indicated that the incident has left the complainant traumatised,” she said.
In his defence, the accused claimed that the complainant’s mother had fabricated the allegations because she was angry with him for not repaying a debt he owed her.
In another case, a Gwanda man has appeared in court facing allegations of raping his sister-in-law. The man, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, met the 28-year-old woman in a bushy area and raped her. He was not asked to plead when he appeared briefly before Gwanda provincial magistrate, Mrs Patience Madondo. He was remanded in custody until May 8.
Prosecuting, Mr Ngonidzashe Shumba said the man allegedly raped his sister-in-law in March 2025.
“The complainant was on her way home from Simbumbumbu Clinic when she met the accused, who greeted her.
They parted ways, but the accused followed her.
“He proposed love to her, but she refused. The accused then dragged the complainant into a bushy area where he raped her,” he said.
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