adminSenior Court Reporter
A-34-YEAR-OLD Nkayi man who waylaid and raped his neighbour’s 11-year-old daughter at knife point has been sentenced to an effective 20 years in jail.Prosper Mkandla of Dimpamiwa village had pleaded not guilty to rape but was convicted by Bulawayo regional magistrate, Sikhumbuzo Nyathi.
Mkandla broke into tears soon after the magistrate had handed down the sentence.
In passing the sentence, Nyathi said there was an increase in cases of sexual abuse and a long prison term would deter like-minded people from committing the crime.
“Cases of sexual abuse are on the rise and in some instances the victims are raped and infected with HIV. The accused therefore deserves a long prison term that would serve as a deterrent to like-minded people,” ruled Nyathi.
Prosecuting, Masimba Saruwaka narrated how between January 2013 and March 2014, Mkandla would waylay the victim as she was coming from school and rape her on different occasions.
“Mkandla would waylay the victim along the road leading to her home. As soon as he spotted her, he would then confront the victim and drag her to a secluded place and rape her,” said Saruwaka.
The matter came to light sometime in March when the victim’s teacher asked the girl why she came to school late.
The victim narrated her ordeal to her teacher who in turn alerted the parents. A police report was made leading to the arrest of Mkandla.
derick.khumalo