Man remanded in custody over alleged rape and impregnation of 16-year-old

A 42-year-old man from Bulawayo’s Nkulumane suburb, who allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl and made her pregnant, appeared in court facing charges of rape. The accused, whose name is withheld to protect the victim’s identity, appeared before Bulawayo Western Commonage magistrate, Mrs Sibongile Marondedze, who remanded him in custody until November 20.

He allegedly committed the crime in February this year.

Presenting the case for the State, prosecutor Ms Melisa Dube said the alleged sexual offence occurred when the complainant visited the accused at his house around four in the afternoon.

“The complainant visited the accused at his house and that is when the accused forced himself on the complainant,” said Ms Dube.

The court heard the accused and the complainant were in a relationship.

Ms Dube told the court that when the complainant visited the accused, he took her into his bedroom, forcibly removed her clothes and raped her.

In his defence, the accused denied the allegations, claiming that the complainant had consented to the sexual relationship.

“We were in a relationship, and she had consented that we should take our relationship to the next level. As for the baby, it is not mine as I used protection,” he said.

The court heard that the matter came to light when the complainant’s mother noticed changes in her daughter’s body and questioned her. The complainant then narrated the events to her mother, leading to the man’s arrest.