Chronicle Editor
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
A 53-year-old man from Tshinwanyani area in Beitbridge has been convicted of raping his nine-year-old daughter after taking advantage of his wife’s absence.
The man who cannot be named to protect the victim, was convicted of rape by Beitbridge regional magistrate, Mr Innocent Bepura due to overwhelming evidence.
He was remanded in custody to today for sentencing.
Prosecuting, Miss Tsitsi Mutukwa told the court that the accused stayed together with his daughter in the Todi area while her mother was away.
The court heard that sometime in June this year, the girl was intercepted by her grandmother while on her way to school. She then took her to her homestead where they started staying together.
However, after school the grandmother would accompany her to the accused’s place to sleep.
The accused was sharing the same bedroom and blankets with the victim.
During one night in June, the man woke up and raped the complainant once. Later that month a relative living in the same area discovered that the accused and the complainant were sharing the same blankets at night and informed the complainant’s mother.
On August 19, the complainant’s mother took her away from accused and the grandmother. She then interviewed her about the sleeping arrangements and she disclosed the sexual abuse. The matter was then reported to the police leading to the accused’s arrest.
A few months ago, another 53-year-old Beitbridge based cross-border transporter was jailed for 42 years for raping his biological daughter for three years until she fell pregnant.
The man started raping the teenager from August 2020 from the age of 13 until she fell pregnant at the age of 16 years last year. Last week police arrested a 67-year-old man for raping his granddaughter. The man is expected to appear in court this week.
Online Reporter