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Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
A 22-year-old Harare maid will spend 15 years in jail for aggravated sexual assault on the 8-year-old son of her employer’s landlord.
Rutendo Banda of Dzivaresekwa was convicted on two counts of aggravated indecent assault after a full trial where she had pleaded not guilty.
In convicting Banda, Harare regional magistrate Mrs Esthere Chivasa said the State, led by Ms Abigail Chido Gohori, had proved their case.
On each count, the magistrate sentenced Banda to 15 years in jail but said the sentences should run concurrently.
In her ruling, Mrs Chivasa said aggravated indecent assault is the same as rape so in the circumstances of an assault on a young child, the sentence could not go below 15 years.
“The offence was committed in aggravated circumstances,” she said, adding it was a serious offence because Banda assaulted the boy.
“There is no way a person convicted of rape or aggravated indecent assault can get a sentence of less than five years.
“It was possible that the same might have been done to other children,” ruled the magistrate.
She said there was a risk of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases in such cases.
“The accused is liable to a sentence of not less than 15 years on each count.”
The magistrate also said community service would be a mockery of justice in this matter.
The court heard that sometime in March at around 6pm, the boy was playing outside the house when Banda called him into their bedroom and assaulted him.
After that, Banda moved to the kitchen where she assaulted the boy again, but ordered him not to tell anyone.
The boy then went outside to play.
The matter only came to light on August 19 when Banda was washing plates at the kitchen sink and the boy, was playing outside the house while the mother was in the bathroom, told Banda that he wanted to tell his mother about the assault that took place in March.
The boy then started narrating to Banda what she did to him, which the mother could hear from the bathroom.
After her bath, the mother called the boy into the house and asked him to repeat what he was saying to Banda.
Later on, his mother escorted him to ZRP Dzivaresekwa where they filed a report, leading to Banda’s arrest.
The boy was then taken to Parirenyatwa Rape Clinic for medical examination.
Online Reporter