Online Reporter
A 42-YEAR-OLD Gwanda man has been sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison for raping his 24-year-old sister-in-law after she rejected his advances.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the victim’s identity, raped the woman twice in June 2025.
He was convicted of rape by Gwanda regional magistrate Mrs Sithembiso Ndebele.
Prosecuting, Mr Ngonidzashe Shumba told the court that the first rape occurred after the accused encountered the complainant while she was on her way home from her aunt’s residence.
The court heard that the man greeted the woman before proposing a relationship, but she rejected his advances.
The accused followed her, dragged her into a bushy area and raped her before fleeing.
The complainant returned home but did not immediately report the matter.
The court heard that later in the same month, the accused passed by the complainant’s homestead and found her doing household chores.
He entered the home and again proposed a relationship, but the woman rejected him.
The court heard that the accused then ordered her to accompany him to the kitchen to prepare food for him, and she complied.
“While in the kitchen hut, the accused person grabbed the complainant, pinned her to the floor and raped her. After committing the offence, he warned the complainant against reporting the matter before leaving the homestead,” said Mr Shumba.
The matter only came to light on June 25 this year when the complainant was sent by her grandmother to her sister’s homestead.
The woman refused to go, saying she feared the accused, who is her sister’s husband, would harm her.
Her grandmother questioned her about the reason for her refusal, prompting the complainant to disclose the abuse.
The matter was subsequently reported to the police, leading to the accused’s arrest and prosecution.
