adminAbel Zhakata Senior Reporter
TWO Nyanga men who raped their neighbours at knife point in two different incidences have been slapped with a combined 40 years jail term after they were found guilty of committing the crimes.
David Katsamba (34) and Lovemore Samakande (51) were jailed 20 years each when they appeared before Rusape regional magistrate, Mr Livingstone Chipadza facing rape charges.
Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira prosecuted.
The court heard that on February 20, Katsamba raped his married neighbour at knife point.
“On the day in question, the complainant was in the company of one Monica Maravanyika when they passed through Nyabanda Mountain. The accused person ambushed them and started throwing stones at the two friends. The women retreated and ran for dear life, while the suspect gave chase. During the chase, the complaint fell down, but Monica managed to escape.
“The accused who was armed with a knife jumped on top of the complainant and told her that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with her, but she refused. He then grabbed her by the neck and raped her once. After committing the crime he asked the complainant whether she had recognised him, but she lied to him and replied in the negative,” said Mr Mutyasira.
The victim ran to a nearby homestead where she fainted and villagers had to conduct first aid to resuscitate her.
She subsequently narrated her ordeal to villagers who then tracked the accused person to his house and made a citizen’s arrest.
Katsamba denied the charges, saying it was a case of mistaken identity, He further argued that the complainant might have been raped by his brother who looked like him.
Mr Chipadza did not buy his defence and slapped him with a 20-year jail term, Two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
In the other case, Samakande was found guilty of raping a 14-year-old neighbour’s daughter. He was convicted of three counts of rape and got 20 years behind bars, two years suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Allegations were that in September 2015, Samakande approached the complainant who was playing at home and called her.
He held the girl by her hand and told her that he wanted to send her somewhere.
“He took the girl to a nearby mountain, about 15m from the house. He had a pocket knife which he produced and threatened to kill the girl if she refused to sleep with him. He raped her once and threatened to kill her if ever she revealed the incident. He repeated the offence in October 2015 and again threatened the girl with death,” said Mr Mutyasira.
The offence surfaced in October when the accused followed the complainant to a garden where she had gone to water tobacco seedlings together with other children.
“When he reached the garden he sent away the other children, leaving the complainant who was carrying a baby on her back. He went on to remove the baby strapped on her back and raped the girl.
However, he was caught red-handed by the complainant’s brother who heard the baby crying and went on to investigate. A police report was made leading to his arrest,” said Mr Mutyasira.
Samakande denied the charges, saying the case was fabricated against him by the girl’s father who was jealousy of his wealth.
Online Reporter