Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura [email protected]
A 61-year-old Bulawayo man has been sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment for raping his 14-year-old daughter, who is mentally challenged.
The accused, whose name has been withheld to protect the victim’s identity, is from Mpopoma suburb and was convicted of rape by Western Commonage regional magistrate Mr Pasipanodya Maturure.
In passing sentence, Mr Maturure said the accused took advantage of his daughter’s mental state. Instead of protecting her, he violated her at their place of residence, where everyone believes that “when you are home, you are safe from all harm.”
Prosecutor Ms Christina Manyika said the accused is the biological father of the complainant. She told the court that from 7 February 2026 to April 2026, the accused had sexual intercourse with the complainant.
She added that during the absence of the accused’s wife, the accused went naked into the kitchen where his daughter was sleeping. Upon entering the room, the accused got into the complainant’s blankets and told her he wanted to sleep with her, but the complainant refused.
The court heard that the accused then dragged his daughter into his bedroom and forced himself on her.
The matter came to light following a tip-off to ChildLine, after which the case was reported to the police. The accused was subsequently arrested, and the complainant was taken to hospital for a medical examination.
