Online Reporter
Musawenkosi Moyo
A 33-YEAR-OLD man from Tsholotsho in Matabeleland North Province has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping his neighbour’s 12-year-old granddaughter.
Ozias Sibanda appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Beverly Madzikatire facing one count of rape. He pleaded not guilty to the charge but was convicted after a full trial and sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison.
In his defence, Sibanda told the court that on the day in question he had called the minor into his house to have a conversation with her but denied ever raping her.
Circumstances are that on 1 January 2025 in Tsholotsho and at around 8pm the complainant was at the accused’s house, standing at the veranda while her friends were in the kitchen when the accused arrived and dragged her into the house where he started kissing and caressing her.
It was heard that Sibanda offered to give the scared minor R20 but she refused to take it. He forced the complainant to lie down on the bed and removed her underwear, his trousers and proceeded to rape her.
After the act the accused wore his trousers and let the complainant return to her friends who had been searching for her. The minor narrated her ordeal to her friends.
The matter came to light when the complainants’ friends alerted her grandmother that something bad had happened to the complainant and that she should question her about it.
The grandmother proceeded to question the complainant who disclosed to her what had transpired.
On 6 January 2025, the complainant was escorted by her grandmother to the police where a report was made resulting in the arrest of the accused.
