adminTendai Gukutikwa Mutare Bureau
A MUTARE man reportedly raped his neighbour’s 10-year-old daughter on several occasions before offering to marry the minor in a bid to stop her family from reporting him to the police.
The 48-year-old man, name withheld to protect the victim’s identity, has since appeared before Mutare magistrate Ms Perseverance Makala.
The man allegedly contravened Section 65 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 23.
Ms Makala advised the accused to seek bail at the High Court citing jurisdiction issues.
Prosecutor Mr Brighton Shamhuyarira is alleging that sometime in November 2016, the suspect asked the minor to escort him to the garden where he reportedly raped her.
It became a routine for the suspect to rape the minor in the bush, the court heard.
He threatened to assault the juvenile if she reported the matter to anyone.
“The minor reported the matter to (the man’s) wife but she did not treat the matter seriously. (He) is alleged to have been in a non-consensual sexual relationship with the 10-year-old from November 2016 till June 2017 when the matter finally came to light,” said Mr Shamuyarira.
The matter was only exposed following a misunderstanding between the suspect and his wife who then demanded to know why he was raping the minor.
When fellow villagers were alerted of the abuse, the man offered to marry the minor.
It is alleged that the suspect said he was ready to make the minor his second wife as he had deflowered her.
He also reportedly begged to pay the bride price to stop villagers from reporting him to the police.
The matter was reported to the police leading to his arrest.
The minor was referred to Mutare Provincial Hospital where she was medically examined.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter