Chronicle Editor
Caroline Mutsawu in Hwange
A LUPANE family attempted to cover-up a rape case involving a 32-year-old who allegedly raped his 13-year-old niece.
The matter only came to light three months later after the family failed to reach an agreement following attempts to have the matter swept under the carpet.
This emerged last week when the man appeared at the Hwange Magistrates Court before regional magistrate Mr Collet Ncube facing one count of rape.
The accused resides at his homestead at Makuni Village, in Lupane and is an uncle to the complainant.
He was remanded in custody to Thursday.
According to the State as represented by Mr Vumizulu Mangena, on a date unknown to the court but sometime in May, the complainant, a Form One pupil was on her way to Matshaya Grinding Mill when she met her uncle.
The uncle ordered her to stop but she refused and he went on to drag her donkey and tied it to a nearby tree.
He then dragged his niece to a nearby bush where he undressed her and allegedly raped her once.
The man released his niece after the deed and threatened to kill her if she told anyone. However, the complainant reported the matter to her aunt two days later who informed her father.
On 16 August, the complainant’s father reported the matter to the police in Lupane after reportedly failing to reach an understanding on the matter at a family gathering.
The complainant was referred to St Luke’s Hospital for medical examination and a medical report will be produced in court as exhibit.
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