adminMashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO security guard who lured his neighbour’s 10-year-old granddaughter into his room under the guise of offering her a part time job to wash dishes before raping her was yesterday sentenced to an effective 23 years in jail.
John Chivhorovhoro, 30, of Pelandaba West pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape but was convicted by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira. He was sentenced to 25 years in jail, of which two were suspended for five years on condition that he does not commit a similar offence.
In passing sentence, the magistrate said there was an increase in cases of sexual abuse, adding that a long prison term would deter like-minded people from committing the crime.
“Cases of sexual abuse are on the rise and the courts have a mandate to protect the victims. We need to address the plight of a girl child, which therefore means that the accused deserves a long prison term that would serve as a deterrent to like-minded people,” ruled Dzira.
In mitigation, Chivhorovhoro pleaded for leniency arguing that he had a handicapped relative that he was looking after.
“Your worship if you send me to jail my physically handicapped relative that I am looking after would suffer as he depends on me for food and clothes,” he pleaded.
Prosecuting, Tinashe Dzipe narrated how between February and March 4, this year, Chivhorovhoro would lure the victim into his room on the pretext that he wanted to give her a part time job to wash his dishes.
The court heard that, Chivhorovhoro stripped the girl and raped her on four different occasions.
“On March 5, Chivhorovhoro invited the victim to his room on the understanding that she would offer her a part time job to wash dishes. When the girl walked into his room, he forcibly removed her clothes,” said Dzipe.
The crime came to light when Chivhorovhoro’s roommate, Munoda Katiza opened the door and found the two naked, sitting on the bed.
Katiza informed the girl’s grandmother who in turn made a police report leading to Chivhorovhoro’s arrest.
derick.khumalo