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Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
A CLEARING agent from Victoria Falls who raped his wife’s mentally challenged friend at a Christmas Day party last year has been jailed.
Trust Fombe, 28, claimed in court the victim, 17, seduced him by dancing erotically at the party.
Hwange regional magistrate Dambudzo Malunga convicted Fombe despite his plea of not guilty.
Fombe of Chinotimba suburb will serve an effective 13 years after the magistrate suspended two years for four years on condition of good behaviour.
Fombe blamed his actions on drunkenness.
“May the court be lenient with me. I was drunk and was seduced by the way she was dancing,” he said.
Malunga was not amused and gave Fombe a tongue lashing.
“Your young wife who happens to be the complainant’s friend had to find out about your infidelity in this manner. If you wanted sex so much, why didn’t you have it with your wife?”
Prosecuting, Tawanda Sigauke said at a party on Christmas Day around 7PM, Fombe led the teenager into a bush where he raped her once.
The matter came to light when the girl’s mother noticed that her clothes were soiled and she was limping heavily.
The woman quizzed her daughter who narrated how Fombe had sexually abused her.
“Her mother led her to the accused’s place of residence where she wanted her to identify her attacker which she did. Later, the girl’s parents confronted Fombe who then begged that the matter be settled out of court without involving the police,” said the prosecutor.
A report was made to the police leading to Fombe’s arrest.
In court, the complainant’s mother said her daughter had a history of mental illness.
Fombe claimed he was not aware his victim was mentally challenged.
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