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Tsenulo Moyo
A 92-YEAR-OLD granny, her frail body bearing the scars of a brutal assault, delivered a heart-wrenching statement in court that left everyone in the courtroom visibly shaken.
Her voice, trembling with anger and pain, echoed through the room as she described the horrific attack she endured at the hands of a 23-year-old man.
“My body is in pain because of what he did, he throttled me, and as a result of that my throat and neck are painful and I am now having difficulties swallowing,” she lamented tearfully.
“I am hurt and if allowed, I would have struck him with my walking stick now, may he rot in prison because I looked after his father, yet he never behaved in the manner the accused did,” she continued, her voice filled with emotion, leaving the courtroom in a sombre mood.
The granny, whose name is withheld for legal reasons, delivered an emotional plea to have Meluleki Ngwenya, from Mathe Line in Tsholotsho, Matabeleland North Province, locked in prison as punishment after he raped her for six hours and left her nearly unconscious.
After the sickening abuse which reportedly occurred from 10 pm to 4 am the following day, the rapist escaped, leaving behind his underwear. This was after the granny made a plea begging the attacker to stop due to exhaustion.
The emotional plea by the granny was made when Ngwenya appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Sekai Benhilda Chiwundura facing rape charges. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was remanded in custody to 21 October 2024 for sentencing. In mitigation, Ngwenya shocked the court when he claimed that the rape was unintentional and that he had no intention of harming the victim.
“It happened unexpectedly, and I have no valid reason for raping the complainant. I actually found the complainant in bed and raped her,” said a remorseful Ngwenya.
Ngwenya pleaded with the court for a lenient sentence, stating that he has a child who needs to be cared for and that he lives alone in his homestead and leaving it unattended for a long period would not be ideal.
Representing the State, Prosecutor Ethro Mada noted that the age difference between the accused and the complainant was 63 years. He emphasised that despite this, the accused was able to achieve an erection and forcefully engage in sexual intercourse with an elderly person, which further aggravated the offence.
“Even though the accused admitted to the offence, thereby shortening the proceedings, the aggravating factors of this case far outweigh the mitigating circumstances,” argued Mada.
The court heard that on 5 August 2024 at around 2200 hours, the complainant was sleeping inside her kitchen hut when the accused person came and gained entry inside through an unlocked door.
The complainant tried to light a candle but the accused person took it and threw it away. It was also heard that the accused person grabbed the complainant, tripped her to the floor and lifted her to the bed. It was heard that the accused person proceeded to rape the complainant several times.
The accused is reported to have stopped after the granny pleaded with him that she was no longer managing. It is reported that he left in the morning at around 4 am.
The granny went and reported the matter to her sister, who then escorted her to the police to report the matter. Investigation by the police led to Ngwenya’s arrest.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu