adminFaith Mabuto Midlands Reporter
A 44 -year-old Shurugwi man who has never had a girlfriend in his life because he was afraid of approaching women was on Friday beginning a 17-year stretch in prison for raping his five-year-old niece.
Joshua Gwaimani who indicated that he was single and had never been married in his life was caught pants down deflowering his niece. Regional magistrate Morgan Nemadire convicted Gwaimani on his own plea of guilty and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
He suspended three years on condition of good behaviour. The magistrate noted that Gwaimani did not waste the court’s time during trial.
Passing sentence, Nemadire said the court should be seen protecting the interests of minors as well as upholding societal values.
“The court has to look at the interests of the child and the society also. I don’t understand why a man like you would engage in such an awful act,” he said.
“You were left to care for the child but you breached that trust. Your behaviour was very immature and bad.”
Nemadire said cases of rape were taken seriously by courts adding that deterrent sentences were always appropriate to send a clear message to would be offenders.
Gwaimani had during cross examination said he has never been married because he was scared of women and did not know how to propose love.
“Your worship, the reason why I’ve never been married is because I don’t know how to propose love to women and I find it hard to approach them,” said Gwaimani.
Prosecuting, Conceptor Ngwerume told the court that on May 9 at around 2PM, Gwaimani was left in the custody of his niece and her other two siblings by their parents.
Ngwerume said the complainant’s father passed through his friend’s homestead who then accompanied him to Chachacha Business Centre but on the way he then discovered that his phone battery was flat.
“The complainant’s father then decided to go back home and charge his phone. That’s when he caught Gwaimani with his pants down to knee level forcing himself on the child who was crying,” said Ngwerume.
The matter was reported to the police by the complainant’s father leading to the arrest of Gwaimani.
Online Reporter