Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A 35-year-old man from Beitbridge has been sent to prison for 15 years after he waylaid and raped a Form 2 pupil at Chamnanga Secondary School in Beitbridge, Matabeleland South.
Prosper Ndou pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before Beitbridge regional magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa on Wednesday, but was convicted on the strength of the State’s evidence.
Ndou was initially sentenced to 17 years in prison before Ms Maphosa conditionally suspended two years, leaving him to serve an effective 15 years in jail.
Prosecuting, Mr Willbrought Muleya said sometime in April this year, the girl was walking from her homestead to the local business centre.
Ndou ambushed her along a footpath in a bushy area. He grabbed her from behind and dragged her to a secluded area in the bush, where he raped her once while threatening to kill her if she screamed to alert other community members.
Ndou went away and the girl reported the matter to one of the female teachers at her school.
The teacher then alerted the police who arrested Ndou.
