Chronicle Editor
TRISH MUKWAZO, trishmukwazo515@gmailcom
A 58-YEAR-OLD man from Nkayi who allegedly raped his two minor granddaughters, aged nine and eleven on several occasions, has been further remanded in custody to 16 October for judgment.
The two children are cousins as their mothers are sisters who share a father – the alleged perpetrator of the crime.
The elderly man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victims, appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate on Wednesday, Ms Sibonginkosi Mnkandla, facing rape charges. He allegedly raped the two minors between January and March.
The two victims alleged that during the rape, their grandfather tried to buy their silence by promising them marriage and makeup kits.
Prosecuting, Ms Nomthandazo Mafu said sometime in January this year, the accused allegedly asked the two children to accompany him to grazing lands to round up the family cattle and they complied. Upon arrival, he ordered them to remove their clothes before allegedly taking turns to rape them.
After raping them, he allegedly ordered the two to touch his genitals. The accused allegedly threatened to harm the girls if they reported the matter to anyone. One of the children informed her mother about their ordeal.
The matter came to light on 25 July when one of the mothers received a call from her sister, informing her that the accused had been raping the two minors.
“One of the complainants’ mothers said she was told by her daughter that the sexual abuse transpired in the kitchen and at the farm. The victims narrated her ordeals to their mothers and they were taken to Inyathi Police Station where a report was made leading to the arrest of the accused,” said Ms Mafu.
The two victims were taken to Inyathi District Hospital for medical examination.
Online Reporter