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Masvingo Correspondent
A 33-YEAR-OLD man from Gutu in Masvingo has been sentenced to an effective 18 years in jail for raping his 15-year-old niece before threatening to kill her. The man of Muganhiri Village in Chatsworth under Chief Serima pleaded not guilty to rape but was convicted by Masvingo regional magistrate Mrs Judith Zvuyu yesterday.
He was sentenced to 20 years in jail of which two years were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour.
In passing the sentence, the magistrate said: “The complainant takes you as the father and looks up to you for protection. You, however, decided to betray that trust by raping her.
“You therefore deserve deterrent sentence that would send a strong message to would-be offenders, said Mrs Zvuyu.
The prosecutor, Ms Sophia Busumani, said during the night of 19 April, the girl was sleeping in the dining room with her brothers aged 10 and seven when the accused, who is her uncle, arrived and opened the door which was not locked.
He found the girl and her two brothers fast asleep.
The court was told that the man proceeded to where the girl was sleeping and woke her up. The man then forcibly dragged the complainant to her parents’ bedroom as the parents were away.
He then ordered the complainant to lie on the bed, undressed her before raping her once.
After committing the offence, the man went on to threaten the victim with death if she reported the matter to anyone.
The girl reported the matter to the police and a manhunt was launched leading to the man’s arrest.
Online Reporter