Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura-Court Reporter
AN inmate at Khami Prison, already serving a 71-year jail term, has been sentenced to an additional 15 years in prison for sodomising a fellow inmate over six months, taking his total term to 86 years.
Mlungisi Maphosa of Silobela Village (35) pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube, but was convicted of aggravated indecent assault, the homosexual equivalent of rape, after overwhelming evidence was presented against him.
The new sentence brings to 86 years the total time Maphosa will now serve behind bars. Even if he earns the standard one third off for good behaviour he will still serve 57 years and four months and will be 92 when he comes out, if he lives that long.
In passing sentence, Mr Ncube strongly condemned Maphosa’s conduct, saying prison is meant for rehabilitation, not for committing further crimes.
“The courts send people to prison so that they reform, but when they are now in prison and continue committing more crimes, this means that the reform part has totally been destroyed. This jail term is a lesson to others who have such a mind,” said Mr Ncube.
Prosecuting, Mr Milton Moyo told the court that the sexual assaults began sometime in November last year, around 3,15pm.
“On that day, Maphosa took the complainant, a 23-year-old inmate, from his cell and led him to his own. Upon arrival, Maphosa ordered the complainant to remove his clothes before pushing him to the ground,” said Mr Moyo.
The court heard that Maphosa threatened to assault the complainant if he screamed. A scuffle ensued, during which Maphosa overpowered the victim and sodomised him.
Mr Moyo said Maphosa continued to assault the complainant on several occasions until April this year, when the matter finally came to light.
“On April 22, the complainant gathered courage and reported the assaults to Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, who in turn alerted the police, leading to Maphosa’s arrest,” he said.
