Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku, [email protected]
A 48-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man appeared in court yesterday for allegedly raping a 13-year-old learner after allegedly luring her to his workplace under the guise of giving her money.
Misheck Mugande of Njube suburb appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube facing a rape charge.
He was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody to October 1. Mugande was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.
Prosecuting, Ms Charmaine Mutapi told the court that the complainant was invited to town by Mugande, who allegedly told her that he wanted to give her money.
“Being enticed by the money, the complainant rushed to town and met the accused at his workplace,” said Ms Mutapi.
The court heard that upon arrival, the complainant was given a bank card to buy food.
“When she returned, the accused asked the minor to accompany him to his car, where he started caressing the complainant. The girl tried to restrain the accused, but he continued, telling her that she could not refuse as he had bought her food,” said Ms Mutapi.
The court heard that Mugande later raped the complainant.
Ms Mutapi told the court that two days later, the complainant’s aunt entered the girl’s bedroom and found her naked while applying Vaseline to her body.
“Her aunt observed a black line across her stomach and she became suspicious and told her that she was pregnant, but the complainant refused. After that, she enquired from artificial intelligence and it showed her that the black line across her stomach was a symptom of pregnancy,” said Ms Mutapi.
The court heard that the aunt subsequently took the girl for pregnancy tests, which confirmed that she was pregnant.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Mugande’s arrest.
