Online Reporter
B-Metro Reporter
A 22-YEAR-OLD man has been locked away for 17 years after unleashing a terrifying New Year’s Day attack on a young mother inside her own bedroom.
Macdonald Ncube was sentenced by the Zvishavane Regional Magistrates’ Court after being convicted of rape and robbery.
The shocking attack happened on 1 January 2026 at around 10PM while the victim’s husband was away at work.
The 25-year-old woman was asleep in her home with her three-month-old baby when Ncube struck.
Armed with an okapi knife and a hunting torch, the offender forced his way into the bedroom and attacked the helpless mother while she lay in bed.
He stabbed her once in the chest and once in the left thigh, leaving her bleeding and terrified.
Under threat of death, the victim was forced to submit as Ncube raped her, all while her infant lay nearby.
After the attack, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said, Ncube continued to menace the victim with the knife, demanding money before robbing her of US$50 and fleeing into the darkness.
The court heard that the attack was planned and predatory, targeting a woman alone and vulnerable in what should have been the safety of her own home.
In passing sentence, the court took a dim view of the use of a lethal weapon, the serious injuries inflicted and the extreme trauma suffered by the victim.
derick.khumalo