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kombi away with only a 15-year-old passenger leaving the conductor at the rank in Guruve as if he was seeking more passengers before raping the girl.
Nechibvute later started ferrying more passengers after raping the girl as he drove back to the terminus.
The girl jumped out of the vehicle when the driver had stopped to pick another passenger and ran away leaving her luggage behind.
Nechibvute was employed by PDB Enterprises and plied the Harare-Guruve route.
Bindura regional magistrate Ms Mavis Kudumba convicted Nechibvute despite his earlier denial of the offence.
Ms Kudumba found overwhelming evidence against Nechibvute and subsequently jailed him.
Mashonaland Central area public prosecutor Mr Emmanuel Muchenga proved that on September 17 last year, when the girl boarded the kombi, Nechibvute drove away as if he was looking for more passengers leaving the conductor behind.
He drove towards Chitsungo area and proposed love to the girl along the way.
The girl turned down the proposal, but Nechibvute later parked the vehicle near Karai turn-off and switched off the lights before raping the minor.
He warned the girl not to tell anyone about the incident.
He started the engine and drove back to Mahuwe picking up other passengers along the way.
When he stopped to pick a passenger, the girl jumped off the vehicle and ran away to a nearby homestead where she disclosed the assault. She was assisted in making a police report leading to the arrest of Nechibvute.
Police arrested Nechibvute while he was in Harare the following day.
When the trial opened, Nechibvute denied the charges saying he had been framed. He later made a sudden turn in the middle of the trial and admitted to being intimate with the girl adding that they were lovers.
Such inconsistencies in his defence contributed to his conviction.
Online Reporter