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Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
A 32-Year-Old Harare man has been jailed for an effective 25 years for raping his four-year-old niece and infecting her with HIV, the virus that causes Aids. The man and his wife took the girl from Gokwe where she was staying with her parents and offered to have her stay with them in Harare. The man denied the charges when he appeared before regional Magistrate Mr Hoseah Mujaya last week but was convicted after a full trial. Mr Mujaya sentenced him to 30 years before suspending five years on condition of good behaviour.
In aggravation, the prosecutor Mr Timothy Makoni called for a lengthy prison term so as to deter would-be-offenders. In June 2013, the rapist who was employed as a gardener, asked the girl’s parents if she could stay with them in Harare.
On a date unknown to the State, the rapist called the minor to his bedroom while his wife was away. He ordered her to lie on the bed before raping her. He ordered her not to tell anyone and threatened to beat her if she disclosed the assault.
He took advantage of his wife’s absence and raped the girl again on another day. The girl’s parents took her back in December 2013 to prepare her to start Grade Zero in January the following year. However, they noticed that her health was deteriorating and they took her to hospital for medical examination in September this year. The examination revealed that she had been sexually assaulted and infected with HIV.
A report was made to the police.
Online Reporter