Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, Court writer
A 35-YEAR-OLD man from Dlawa area under Chief Sikhobokhobo in Nkayi, Matabeleland North Province, who was arrested for sexually violating his 16-year-old daughter, has been convicted and sentenced to 40 years in jail.
The accused, who cannot be named so as to protect the identity of the victim, has been making trips for trial at the Bulawayo Magistrates Courts, facing two counts of rape.
Last Thursday was his last trip as he appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira, who found him guilty of both counts and sentenced him to 20 years for each count. He will serve them concurrently.
Throughout the trial the offender pleaded not guilty and told the court that his daughter was influenced by his sister to fabricate lies and claim that he raped her.
He told the court that the accusations ensued after he was involved in a fall out with his sister and claims she swore that she would get him jailed.
The victim, however, told the court that there was no bad blood between him and her father and that her father raped her twice.
She buttressed her testimony by stating that there was no reason to lie against her father.
“The incident left me traumatised and it will haunt me for a long time. I will prefer that the court hands down a custodial sentence to him because if he is given a non-custodial sentence he will repeat his attacks on me and eventually kill me as he used to issue death threats at me,” she said.
Prosecutor, Ms Concilia Ncube, said the accused invaded the privacy of his daughter and the ordeal will haunt her. She also said his unbecoming behaviour left the dignity of the minor infringed upon.
The State further said instead of playing a father figure role, the accused chose to take advantage of the vulnerable minor and sexually attacked her.
Ms Ncube stated that the man betrayed the trust the minor had in him stating that the society frowns upon such despicable behaviour.
Ms Ncube said the offender remained at home with the victim and raped her on two separate occasions.
“On the first occasion in September this year, he sent the victim to his bedroom hut to collect some items and followed her into the bedroom and raped her.
“On the second occasion in October this year, he came home in the afternoon and found the girl alone cleaning the kitchen and raped her,” said Ms Moyo.
