Online Reporter
Prosper Dembedza
Herald Correspondent
A 26-year-old Harare man from Hopely was last Friday sentenced to 10 years in jail after he was found guilty of raping his 13-year-old sister twice.
The accused was convicted by Harare regional magistrate Mrs Fadzai Mtombeni following a full trial.
The convict was slapped with 10 years for both counts. In her ruling, the magistrate said the State led by Mr Blessed Songozo managed to prove a prima facie case against the convict.
The state proved that on October 8, 2024, the complainant went to her brother’s home soon after finishing writing her grade 7 examinations.
It was alleged that during the first week of November 2024, the complainant was asleep together with her niece and her nephew when the accused entered the room and slipped into his sister’s blankets and sat next to her while eating sadza.
After eating, the accused lifted the complainant’s nephew and niece, who were fast asleep and placed them on the bed.
The convict slipped into his sister’s blankets and raped her while covering her mouth with his hand.
The complainant did not reveal the matter to anyone since she was staying at the convict’s place.
The following day, the convict raped his sister again and she did not reveal the matter to anyone.
The court heard that the matter came to light when the two went to their aunt’s place in Domboshava, and the brother was seen by villagers fondling the complainant without her consent.
A health worker heard about the incident, approached the minor, and she spilt the beans.
