adminThandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A 73-YEAR-OLD man from Nkayi allegedly turned his 13-year-old granddaughter into a sex slave, habitually raping her since October last year, a court heard yesterday.
The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, appeared before regional magistrate Crispen Mberewere and pleaded not guilty to one count of rape.
Taking to the witness stand at the beginning of the State case yesterday, the girl told the court that her grandfather had raped her many times.
“He raped me more than once, in the fields, in the kitchen and in the bush,” said the girl.
Mberewere remanded the girl’s grandfather out of custody to September 8.
The elderly man is being represented by Prayers Chitsa from Maupa, Mkushi, Foroma and Partners.
Prosecuting, Trust Muduma said in October last year at Gobalemhuka area and at around 12PM, the girl, who is doing Grade Six, proceeded to the bush to relieve herself.
He said her grandfather followed her and ordered her to lie down before undressing her.
“He raped her once and later threatened to kill her if she revealed the matter to anyone. On October 15, the man instructed his granddaughter to go and collect her clothes from his homestead,” said Muduma.
“Upon arrival, the man dragged the girl into his bedroom hut and the girl screamed. He released her. The matter came to light when the victim’s father saw her crying and she narrated her ordeal leading, to the man’s arrest.”
Online Reporter