Married herdsman caged

Thandeka Moyo Court Reporter
A KEZI herdsman has been slapped with an eight year jail term for turning his employer’s 14-year-old granddaughter into a sex slave. Casper Nkomo, 49, who was initially facing two counts of rape, was convicted of sleeping with a minor by regional magistrate Mark Dzira.

Nkomo pleaded not guilty to both counts but was left with egg on his face when the girl’s grandmother confirmed that she once caught the two having sex.

“I was under the influence of medication one afternoon and when I woke up I discovered that my granddaughter was not around. I looked for her only to find Nkomo on top of her. When I asked her, she said she was in a relationship with Nkomo,” said the grandmother.

“The two had intercourse on many occasions.”In his defence, Nkomo said: “I deny the allegations as I have never had intercourse with her. These are just allegations meant to tarnish my image”. Passing judgement, magistrate Dzira said it was clear from the circumstances that Nkomo and the girl had consensual sex.

“The court finds that for the first count, sexual intercourse was by consent. With regards to the second count, the girl denied that she was raped but that you got into her blankets thus you can only be liable for having sex with a minor,” said magistrate Dzira.

“You are therefore sentenced to eight years in prison of which two years are suspended for five years on condition that within that period you will not commit a sexual crime.”Prosecuting, Tinashe Dzipe told the court that sometime in March, Nkomo was in the fields guarding crops with his wife and the girl.

“Nkomo persuaded the girl to accompany him to fetch firewood on the other side of the field and she agreed. His wife remained behind,” said Dzipe.

“When they reached the other side, Nkomo grabbed the girl and moved her closer to him. He went on to undress and pushed her to the ground.”

The court heard that Nkomo raped the girl once.“Nkomo threatened to assault the girl if she revealed the matter to anyone,” Dzipe said.

On August 13 during the night at Nkomo’s workplace, he entered the girl’s bedroom hut and had sex with her once, the court heard. “After the act, Nkomo fell asleep while inside the girl’s blankets. The girl sneaked out of the room and informed her brother who found Nkomo still sleeping in the girl’s blankets.”