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Plaxcedes Hove Court Reporter—
TWO Bulawayo women concealed their minor cousin’s rape in return for $100 monthly payments offered by a 61-year-old man who committed suicide last week as police closed in on him for impregnating the victim. The two, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Maphios Moyo facing charges of obstructing the course of justice. The court heard that on an unknown date in 2012, Patrick Phiri of Nkulumane suburb had sexual intercourse on several occasions with the complainant – who is his niece – without her consent.
The 15-year-old girl informed the two women who are her relatives about the rape but they swept the matter under the carpet in exchange for $100 monthly payments offered by Phiri that they shared.
The duration of the time the pair received the payments as inducements was, however, not immediately not clear.
Prosecuting, Whatmore Tembo said the complainant fell pregnant due to the rape and was taken to Mpilo hospital to give birth.
As an attempt to cover up for Phiri, the juvenile’s accused relatives lied to hospital authorities that they did not know the man who had impregnated her.
“When complainant went to the hospital the accused persons told the nurses at the hospital that she was impregnated by an unknown man suspected to be in South Africa hiding the case of rape by their uncle,” Tembo said.
The court also heard that after the juvenile gave birth, one of the accused women took the baby to Esigodini, her rural home.
She later claimed that the baby had died on the way and was later incinerated, a claim that she still stands by.
Tembo said the complainant did not see her child after birth and until now she does not know exactly what really transpired.
“The juvenile did not see her child after she gave birth for (accused) had taken away the child to Esigodini. She does not know where the child is and even now no one seems to know if the baby really died,” he said.
The accused persons pleaded guilty to the charge that was levelled against them.
They were remanded in custody and will be sentenced today.
Online Reporter