20-year-old man Bulawayo slapped with 15 years jail term for raping co-tenant

A 20-year-old Bulawayo man will spend 15 years in prison for raping his 23-year-old co-tenant.
Thubalenkosi Sibanda (20) from Upper Rangemore, appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate, Mr Pasipanodya Maturure, facing a charge of rape.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence, and claimed the complainant (name withheld for ethical reasons) was the one who came to him saying that she suspects that her husband was having an affair with the accused person’s wife.

Sibanda further said the complainant suggested that they must do what his wife and the complainant’s husband are doing, and he agreed to have sexual intercourse with her.

However, Mr Maturure sentenced Sibanda to 15 years effective, stating that his excuse was a way of trying to run away from the offence and that if it was not rape the complainant could not have gone to report the matter to the police the same date it was committed.

Prosecuting, Ms Christina Manyika told the court that the offence was committed on January 29, 2026 at around 2AM.
On this date, the complainant was asleep in her room when she was awakened by the accused person who was in her blankets behind her having sexual intercourse with her without her consent and protection.

The court heard that upon being questioned by the complainant what he was doing, the accused person jumped out of the bed and brought US$1 to silence her.

The complainant went to police to file a report and was referred to hospital for medical examination, said Ms Manyika.