adminSharon Chikowore Mashonaland West Bureau
A man and his son from Kenzamba in Makonde District have been jailed to a combined term of 22 years after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl. They pleaded guilty when they appeared before Chinhoyi magistrate Mr Felix Mawadze facing rape charges.
The man, aged 56, was sentenced to 12 years behind bars, while his 23-year-old son will serve 10 years in jail after Mr Mawadze suspended two years for each sentence on conditions.
Appearing for the State, Mr Nyasha Sibesha and Mr Claudius Karinga, told the court that the matter came to light when the Grade 5 pupils’ teacher queried why she was missing classes regularly.
The teacher urged the girl, related to the two men, to open up on what was bothering her.
The girl then told her grandmother about the rape cases when the teacher advised her to do so.
Mr Sibesha and Mr Karinga had also told the court that the girl had been threatened not to report the rape cases by the two men.
The prosecutors said on one occasion, the girl was raped while herding cattle in a forest by the younger man who was also herding his own cattle.
His father also raped the girl her when he visited her homestead and found her alone.
The grandmother reported the rape cases to the police when she learnt of the abuse, leading to the arrest of the father and son. The girl was taken to hospital for medical examinations which confirmed the abuse.
Online Reporter