Chronicle Editor
Peter Matika, Senior Reporter
A 23-year-old man from Nyamandlovu in Matabeleland North, who in 2017 allegedly raped and threatened a minor child with death, after cajoling her with sweet reeds (imfe) has been arraigned before the courts.
Sibangilizwe Nyathi appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Lizwe Jamela last week and was not asked to plead.
Mr Jamela remanded him in custody to Friday for trial. According to the State, as presented by the prosecutor, Mr Terrance Chakabuda, Nyathi allegedly raped the girl after she visited her grandfather whom he was working for.
Mr Chakabuda told the court that Nyathi lured the girl with sweet reeds, after she revealed her appreciation for the plant.
He told the court that Nyathi would lead the girl to the fields under the guise that they were going to harvest the reeds, before raping her.
After committing the offence, Nyathi allegedly threatened to kill the minor’s grandmother if she ever revealed to her of what had transpired. Fearing for her grandmother’s life the minor did not reveal her ordeal, until November 2018.
She revealed the matter, after her aunt who is a traditional healer confronted her and said she was hiding something serious. The girl then narrated her ordeal to the aunt, who then told her mother, who in turn reported to the police on 21 January this year leading to Nyathi’s arrest.
Online Reporter