Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A 69-year-old senior citizen from Beitbridge who repeatedly raped his 12-year-old niece has been sentenced to an effective 15 years’ imprisonment by the Beitbridge Regional Magistrate Court.
In a statement on Thursday, the National Prosecution Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said the accused committed the offence throughout the month of May this year.
The man who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim went to stay at his niece’s family home in Beitbridge in May.
During that time, he slept in the kitchen with the girl and her brother, while the children’s aunt was often away overnight.
The NPAZ said the accused took advantage of the aunt’s absence and at night, he would go to the girl’s bed, pull away her blankets, and rape her.
This continued almost every night and it only stopped on the two nights when the aunt was at home. By 29 May 2026, the abuse had gone on for weeks.
“The abuse affected the girl’s schoolwork. She began arriving late for classes and looked tired. On 1 June 2026, her aunt asked her what was wrong,” reads part of the NAPZ statement.
“The victim revealed that the offender was sexually abusing her every night, which left her exhausted and unable to attend school on time.
“A report was then made to the police leading to the subsequent arrest of the offender. The NPAZ warns that perpetrators of sexual violence will be prosecuted and held accountable.”
