Chronicle Editor
Codelia Mondela, Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO man has been sentenced to 13 years in jail for raping his wife’s minor friend after she refused to be his second wife.
Mufudzi Dube (29) of Gwabalanda suburb called the 14-year-old to his house during his wife’s absence. He covered the minor’s mouth with a piece of cloth and raped her.
Mufudzi pleaded not guilty to rape before Bulawayo magistrate Mrs Sibongile Msipa-Marondedze.
However, Mrs Msipa-Marondedze found him guilty and sentenced him to 13 years in jail.
She suspended five years in prison on condition that he does not commit a similar offence in the next five years.
He will spend an effective eight years in prison.
The minor testified that Mufudzi raped her at knife point, threatening to kill her if she screamed.
She said after the rape, Mufudzi tasked her to clean the toilet and left her in the house.
Prosecuting, Miss Concilia Ncube said Mufudzi called the juvenile to his house after he saw her playing with other children on October 25, in 2016.
“He locked the door and told the minor that he wanted her to be his wife, but she turned down his proposal. Mufudzi took a piece of cloth and tied it over the minor’s mouth and raped her once,” Miss Ncube said — @MondelaC.
derick.khumalo