Online Reporter
Danisa Masuku
A TSHOLOTSHO father who turned into a monster by raping and impregnating his own daughter has been sentenced to 40 years in prison — a strong reminder that justice does catch up with abusers, no matter who they are.
The 40-year-old man from Mkhubazi Line, whose name is withheld to protect the identity of his 19-year-old daughter, was convicted on two counts of rape by Bulawayo Regional Magistrate, Lungile Ncube.
In his scathing remarks during sentencing, the magistrate said the man’s actions went against all human decency and the values of Ubuntu.
“The accused violated the values of Ubuntu and his conduct is evil and deplorable. Such people deserve to be removed from society for a long time. Accordingly, a lengthy prison term would meet the justice of the matter,” said Mr Ncube.
Prosecutors Siphiwe Mhlanga and Hazel Ncube told the court that the man repeatedly raped his daughter between June 2022 and July 2025. Each time, he would threaten to beat her if she told anyone.
The abuse began shortly after the father separated from his wife. The victim, who had gone to live with him, found herself trapped in fear as her father turned into a predator.
In a chilling defence, the man claimed he “proposed love” to his daughter and that their relationship was consensual.
But the young woman stood firm in court, telling the magistrate that her father forced himself on her several times until she fell pregnant around September 2023.
She said her father stalked her, followed her to work, and would beat her whenever he saw messages from male friends on her phone.
“Whenever my father stumbled on a WhatsApp message of me communicating with a male person or lover, he would beat me up. Sometime in July this year, I fled to another village where my mother stays,” said the victim.
Her father, however, tracked her down, dragged her back home and raped her again.
In her victim impact statement, the brave survivor spoke with heartbreak but also with courage — showing other victims that silence is not the answer.
“My father betrayed the trust I had in him and impregnated me. Now, I have a child and how will I call her? The issue left me hurt and I pray that this court will jail him for 15 years,” she said.
