Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A 20-year-old man from Gabara village under chief Tshitaudze in Beitbridge has been jailed for an effective 15 years for sexually abusing his neighbour’s three-year-old daughter.
Goodman Zhou is accused of having taken advantage and took the complainant to his homestead after finding her father sleeping.
He is also reported to have smeared the toddler’s genitals with Vaseline during the rape.
Zhou pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape when he appeared before Beitbridge regional magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa on Wednesday.
However, he was convicted on the strength of the State’s evidence.
Prosecuting, Mr Willbrought Muleya said on October 16, at around 1pm the complainant’s mother left her in the company of her husband (who was asleep) and two brothers playing in the yard as she went to a local grinding mill.
The accused later arrived and took the complainant and another brother to his homestead.
At his homestead he gave his brother some money and sent him to buy a few items at the nearby tuck-shop.
He then took advantage and raped the girl once after smearing her genitals with Vaseline. Zhou was caught in the act by the victim’s brother and threatened both of them not to tell anyone about the incident.
After which he released them to go to their homestead.
The issue came to light when the mother found the complainant crying and inquired. She was then informed about the incident and in turn reported the matter to the police who later arrested Zhou.
derick.khumalo