Londile Moyo
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
A 32-year-old man from Mberengwa has been sentenced to 40 years in prison after being convicted of raping his 16-year-old relative on two occasions.
Appearing before Zvishavane Regional Magistrate, Mr Tayengwa Sangster, facing two counts of rape was the man (name withheld to protect the identity of the victim), pleaded not guilty to the charge but was convicted after a full trial.
Mr Sangster sentenced him to 20 years for each count bringing the total to 40 years in prison.
However, the perpetrator will serve 20 years as the two sentences will run concurrently. The court heard that the abuse occurred over multiple incidents, with the victim initially remaining silent due to threats against her life.
It was the State case as presented by Mr Isheanopa Mashayanye that the complainant is aged 16 years residing in. Mberengwa.
The accused is the son in law to the complainant and they stayed together. The court heard that on the date unknown to the prosecutor but in February last year, the complainant’s mother was away.
During the evening, the accused person summoned the complainant to his bedroom and closed the door.
The accused person pushed the complainant to the bed and mounted on top of her whilst his trousers was on the knee level and removed the complainant’s pant.
The accused person raped the complainant before threatening to kill her with an axe if she revealed matter to anyone.
Under count two, Mr Mashayane said sometime during the month of February 2026 during the day the accused person summoned the complainant to go and fetch firewood at a nearby forest.
The accused person then followed the complainant to the forest, tripped her to the ground, removed her pant and had unprotected sexual intercourse with her once without her consent.
Matter came to light on March 16 when the complainant told her step mother that she was raped by the accused person on two different occasions.
The matter was reported to the police leading to the arrest of the suspect.
Online Reporter