Online Reporter
Alicia Kadzviti
Herald Reporter
A 28-YEAR-OLD man from Chief Tandi area of Rusape has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for raping his 15-year-old niece.
According to a statement by the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the man was convicted after a full trial at the Rusape Magistrates’ Court.
“The complaint was left in the custody of the offender, who is her uncle,” said the statement
The incident occurred on September 5.
According to the statement, the incident occurred after the girl went into the convict’s bedroom to ask for body lotion.
The uncle then demanded sex and when the victim refused, he pushed her onto the bed, stripped and raped her.
The abuse was witnessed by the victim’s young sister, who heard noises and peeped through the door.
She later reported the matter to their stepmother, leading to the victim revealing the ordeal.
The NPAZ expressed concern over increasing cases of child sexual abuse by trusted relatives.
“The raping of juveniles by close relatives is becoming a worrying trend as these are people trusted by the children,” it said.
“Communities are urged to be on the lookout and put in place measures to protect children from paedophiles.”
