Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Mutare Bureau
A NYANGA teacher was sentenced to 30 years in jail after being convicted of raping a 10-year-old pupil during extra lessons.
Laxon Chisinga, of Claremont in Nyanga, had pleaded not guilty, prompting a full trial at Nyanga Magistrates’ Court.
Magistrate Phathekile Msipa convicted him of two counts of rape as defined in section 65(1) as read with Section 64(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.
Magistrate Msipa sentenced Chisinga to 15 years imprisonment on the first count and another 15 years imprisonment on the second count.
The 24-year-old will serve an effective 30 years in prison.
Prosecutor Mr Cuthbert Bhosha proved that Chisinga, who was employed as a general worker at Claremont, was offering grade three extra lessons to the minor.
“Sometime in February, the minor and other pupils went to Chisinga’s home for extra lessons. The starting time was 5 pm and ended at 7 pm.
“The lessons were conducted on Chisinga’s verandah. Sometime in April, and at around 7 pm, Chisinga called the minor into his bedroom, locked the door and ordered her to sleep on the bed and raped her. The minor did not tell anyone,” said Mr Bhosha.
On May 3, the minor proceeded to Chisinga’s home for lessons at around 3 pm. At around 10 pm, Chisinga dismissed other pupils and ordered the minor to remain behind.
He told her that he was afraid to remain alone at his home.
“He took her into her bedroom where he raped her again,” he said.
“The minor’s mother, who was looking for her, knocked at the door and Chisinga lied to her that he had dismissed the minor and she had gone home.
“The minor’s mother returned home but her daughter was not there. She decided to go back to Chisinga’s home and that is when she met Chisinga with the minor.
“She then told her child never to go to Chisinga’s home ever again.”
However, on May 7 and at around 5 am, the minor sneaked away from home and went to Chisinga’s home.
Her mother sent a relative to call her to come back home.
“When the minor returned home, she was assaulted by her mother and that is when she revealed that she was raped by Chisinga on two occasions,” said Mr Bhosha.
“The mother proceeded to ZRP Nyanga Police Station, where she made a report, and Chisinga was arrested.”
The minor was referred to Nyanga District Hospital for medical examination, and the medical report proved that she had been sexually assaulted.
