Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected]
A 32-YEAR-OLD domestic worker has been sentenced to 30 years in jail for raping two primary schoolgirls aged nine and 10 after luring them into a bush while they were walking to school.
Mthulisi Ncube was convicted of two counts of rape by Gwanda regional magistrate, Mrs Sithembiso Ndebele. He was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for each count.
In passing sentence, Mrs Ndebele said although Ncube had pleaded not guilty, the evidence presented before the court proved beyond reasonable doubt that he had committed the offences.
She said the crimes were aggravated by the tender ages of the complainants
“What is aggravating is the fact that the complainants are aged nine and 10 years old, making them vulnerable. The complainants could be emotionally scarred for life because of the actions of the accused person,” said Mrs Ndebele.
“The accused person lives in the same community as the complainants and took advantage of that to lure them into the bush where he raped them.”
Mrs Ndebele said Ncube posed a danger to the community as he victimises young children, hence a deterrent sentence was necessary to serve as a lesson for like-minded people.
Prosecuting, Mr Ngonidzashe Shumba told the court that on February 16 at about 7AM, Ncube, who worked as a domestic worker in Mapate Village, intercepted the two girls and another child as they were walking to school.
He accused the girls of being late and ordered them to accompany him into a nearby bush under the pretext of collecting wild fruits as punishment.
The court heard that once at the bush, Ncube raped both girls while their companion watched. He threatened the children with unspecified consequences if they reported the attacks. The victims later disclosed the abuse to their guardians, who reported the matter to the police, leading to Ncube’s arrest.
— @DubeMatutu
