Online Reporter
Getrude Manyande [email protected]
A 23-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man who raped his neighbour’s 16-year-old daughter in a fowl run has been sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison.
Allein Nkosinomusa Mguni of Nkulumane suburb was convicted of rape by Western Commonage regional magistrate Mr Pasipanodya Maturure.
In passing sentence, Mr Maturure said the complainant was a vulnerable child who was incapable of fully protecting herself or appreciating and resisting what was being done to her.
The magistrate said the circumstances of the offence heightened its seriousness, particularly the abuse of trust and the complainant’s age.
“The accused abused a position of trust when he raped the complainant. The accused was known to the complainant, who regarded him as a brother and it was that very familiarity which afforded him the opportunity to isolate her in a shack on his premises,” he said.
Prosecuting, Ms Melissa Dube told the court that on July 11 at about 6pm, the complainant was walking home after fetching water from a community tap when Mguni called her to his residence.
The court heard that Mguni led the teenager into a fowl run, forcibly removed her clothes and raped her.
After the assault, Mguni threatened to beat the girl if she reported the matter before fleeing the scene.
The complainant later reported the rape to the police, leading to Mguni’s arrest. She was subsequently referred to hospital for a medical examination.
