Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku [email protected]
A 33-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo’s Lobengula West suburb has appeared in court to stand trial for allegedly raping his eight-year-old daughter.
The accused, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor child, appeared on Wednesday for the commencement of his trial before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Ms Singoninkosi
Mkandla charged with rape. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The accused is legally represented by Mr Simbarashe Innocent Madzivire of Mashayamombe Law Firm.
In defence of the accused, Mr Madzivire argued that his client is completely innocent of the allegations.
“The accused denies ever committing the crime. The alleged victim is his biological daughter and after these allegations were levelled against him, the child was taken for a medical examination.
“The resulting medical report explicitly shows that there was no penetration or tearing of her private parts,” argued Mr Madzivire.
Testifying in court, a state witness told the court that on 9 August this year, she noticed that the minor was walking with visible difficulty.
“I asked her why she was walking with difficulty, and she claimed that her stomach was painful. After that, she went to play with her peers and later returned home in the company of a neighbour, who informed me that the victim had confided in her that she was raped by her father,” said the witness.
The witness further stated that the accused threatened to kill the child if she ever disclosed the ordeal to anyone.
“The child told us that she was afraid to disclose the ordeal to anyone as she feared being killed by her father. However, severe pain in her private parts forced her to divulge the ordeal to a neighbour,” the witness told the court.
The state witness also noted that the traumatised minor begged her not to tell the accused as she feared for her life.
“The child started to cry and I immediately took her to a police station where the matter was reported, following which the accused was arrested,” she said.
The matter was postponed to today, 26 August 2026 for continuation of trial.
Prosecuting, Ms Tsungai Mutapi told the court that the offence occurred earlier this month on 8 August.
“The accused, who sleeps in a separate bedroom, woke up during the night and furtively walked into the bedroom where the minor was sleeping, before carrying out the sickening attack. After that, he threatened to kill the minor if she ever divulged the incident to anyone.
“The complainant was later seen walking with difficulty. When a relative questioned her, she revealed that she had been raped by her father. The minor was rushed to the hospital and the matter was reported to the police, leading to the suspect’s arrest,” said Ms Mutapi.
