Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
A 52-YEAR-OLD Mberengwa man has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for repeatedly raping his 10-year-old niece.
The man from Runyararo B Village under Chief Bute area was convicted of rape by Zvishavane regional magistrate Mr Tavengwa Sangster.
He will, however, serve an effective 18 years after the magistrate suspended two years on condition of good behaviour.
The abuse began in 2021 when the young girl was living under her uncle’s care.
The prosecutor, Ms Moreblessing Chananda, narrated how the assaults unfolded against a backdrop of cramped living conditions. That year, the accused’s wife gave birth to twins, straining the family’s already limited space in their one-room flat.
As a result, the man began sleeping outside with his niece, a decision that provided the opportunity for his predatory actions.
Ms Chananda told the court that the first assault occurred at midnight when the man fondled the girl’s breasts.
“When she attempted to scream, the accused silenced her with threats of violence before raping her. Soon after the assault, he ordered her not to reveal the offence to anyone, threatening to kill her if she did,” she said.
The court heard that this was not an isolated incident. The abuse continued on several different occasions throughout 2021 and into 2022, with the girl trapped in a cycle of fear and silence.
The complainant endured her ordeal until 2022, when she relocated to Beitbridge to live with her aunt, possibly hoping for respite. However, the trauma lingered, and it was not until January this year that the matter came to light when the girl, now 14 years old, confided in a female regular customer at her mother’s workplace.
The woman, moved by the child’s distress, encouraged the victim to report the abuse. A report was made to the police last month, leading to the man’s arrest.
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