Online Reporter
Alicia Kadzviti
Herald Reporter
A 50-year-old man from Buhera has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping a 16-year-old girl.
The Rusape Magistrates’ Court handed down the sentence following a full trial on January 11, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPA), the victim was walking home alone from church when she was approached by the offender, who was travelling in the same direction.
The two engaged in a conversation until they reached a nearby stream. He tricked her into holding his umbrella, grabbed her by the throat, then dragged her into the bushes and raped her at knifepoint.
Following the assault, the offender forced the victim to wash her mud-covered body and clothing in the stream. She was then forced to walk home in wet garments.
Upon reaching home, the teenager reported the crime to her mother, who immediately alerted police, leading to the man’s arrest.
In a statement, the NPAZ said the ruling sends a strong message that perpetrators of sexual violence will be prosecuted and held accountable.
