Dad impregnates daughter (16)

Lovemore Kadzura

A RUSAPE man who raped and impregnated his 16-year-old step daughter will languish in prison for the next 18 years after he was found guilty of the offence.Marevasei Marume (38) of Mahere Village, Mayo will, however, spend 15 years behind bars after Rusape regional magistrate, Mr Livingstone Chipadza suspended three years on condition of good behaviour.

Marume was denying the offence, saying the girl’s biological father had influenced her to cook up the allegations since he was bitter that he had married his former wife.

Rusape Area prosecutor, Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira, told the court that Marume raped the girl in full view of her three siblings. He added that when the girl’s mother confronted him over the rape he thrashed her leading to her losing two teeth.

“On an unknown date, but during the month of July 2015 at around 7pm, the complainant was sent by her mother to sleep at the accused’s homestead as they were attending a funeral in the same village.

“Around midnight, Marume returned to his homestead and entered into the sitting room where the complainant was sleeping with her three siblings aged five, nine and 13.

“Marume entered into the blankets where the four were sleeping. When the complainant asked him what he was doing in their blankets, he said he was covering her young sister with a blanket. Marume then proceeded to rape the complainant. He told her that he had the right to do so because he bought had bought her some panties.

“The 13-year-old son asked what Marume was doing, but he did not respond. He threatened the complainant with unspecified actions if she ever revealed the abuse to anyone.

“The following morning, the complainant’s mother returned from the funeral and the girl told her what had happened. The complainant’s mother asked the accused about the case and he became violent. He assaulted her, resulting in her losing her two front teeth,” said Mr Mutyasira.

The matter was only reported to the police in November after the complainant’s employer noticed that she was pregnant.

When she asked her, she was told that she was raped by her step-father.

A report was made to the police leading to Marume’s arrest.