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Elizabeth Tsuro Midlands Reporter
A 35-YEAR-OLD man from Zhombe was yesterday slapped with a 20-year jail term for raping his 69-year-old employer.
Willard Munyadza, from Mudhe Village under Chief Samambwa in Zhombe, was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by Kwekwe–Gokwe Regional Magistrate Amos Mbobo for two counts of unlawful entry and rape.
Munyadza, who performed menial jobs for the woman, had pleaded not guilty but was convicted due to overwhelming evidence against him.
In passing sentence, Magistrate Mbobo said Munyadza had broken his employer’s trust.
“Overwhelming evidence and the medical report produced in this court clearly shows that you committed the offence and for that you’ve been convicted. You raped your defenceless 69-year-old employer who trusted you and for that you should be punished,” he said.
“You’ve been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for the unlawful entry charge.
“For rape, you are sentenced to 20 years imprisonment of which two years are suspended on condition of good behaviour. Effectively you will serve 19 years in jail.”
Prosecuting, Mary Chapinda said on March 19 last year at around 7PM, Munyadza who lived in the same village with the complainant went to her homestead.
While there, the court heard that Munyadza forced open the complainant’s bedroom’s door and went in.
“Once inside the bedroom hut, Munyadza grabbed his employer, undressed her and pushed her backwards before raping her once,” said Chapinda.
Chapinda said the complainant screamed for help and her attacker fled.
derick.khumalo