adminAngeline Mpofu Court Reporter
A juvenile’s grandparents ordered her not to report her rape by their son, 21, in exchange for wild fruits (umkhuna).
The juvenile who was seven years old when the crime was committed informed her grandparents that her uncle, Lastboy Tshuma of Nkayi had raped her but they sought to conceal the matter.
This forced her to approach her teacher.
The teacher took the complainant to the school head and a report was made to police, leading to Tshuma’s arrest. The accused appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Sikhumbuzo Nyathi on Wednesday facing three counts of rape.
The teacher told the court that sometime in 2011 the complainant approached her and narrated the incidents.
“I don’t remember the exact date but some time last year the complainant came to me and told me that his uncle raped her thrice,” said the teacher.
On the first occasion, she said, Tshuma asked her to accompany her to fetch wild fruits. While they were in the bush she raped her once, closing her mouth to stop her from screaming.
The juvenile told her teacher that when she reported the matter to her grandparents they ordered her to keep it secret, the court heard.
Prosecuting, Trust Mudume said on his first count sometime in the year 2010 the accused lured the girl to a bushy area to fetch wild fruits and raped her once.
He said on the second count, sometime in July 2011, Tshuma followed the complainant while she was on her way to fetch water.
He caught up with her and grabbed her by her hand before pushing her to the ground, removing her pants before raping her, he said.
On the third count, sometime in August 2011, the accused met the complainant while she was coming from the river and raped her.
He ordered her to put down her bucket and ordered her to follow him to a bushy area where he raped her once.
Tshuma denied committing the crime claiming that he was in South Africa during the time when the crime is said to have happened.
He said: “I did not commit the crime because I was in South Africa in 2011. She is mistaking me for another uncle who raped her.”
Tshuma was remanded in custody and his trial continues on April 24.
Online Reporter