Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]
A SELF-PROCLAIMED prophet from Gwanda District will spend 20 years in prison for raping a 12-year-old girl under the pretext of praying for her.
The man (40) of Mapane One Village was convicted on his own plea of guilty to two counts of rape when he appeared before Gwanda Regional Magistrate, Ms Sithembiso Ndebele.
He was sentenced to an effective 20 year jail term.
In passing the sentence, Ms Ndebele said she took into account that Moyo raped the complainant while knowing that he was HIV positive, thereby putting her health at risk.
She said she also considered that Moyo committed the offence more than once.
Ms Ndebele said the complainant was of a tender age and the actions of the accused person could have destroyed her life.
“You took advantage of the trust, which the complainant had towards you and violated her. You are a danger to the community as you go around under the pretext of helping people while you harm young children,” she said.
“The accused person knowing that he was HIV positive went on to have sexual intercourse with the complainant without using protection, not only violating her but also putting her life at risk. He committed the offence several times.”
Prosecuting, Ms Zanele Sithole, said the accused person raped the complainant during the month of December last year and in January this year.
“On the date unknown by the prosecutor but during the month of December 2024, the accused person took the complainant who was in the company of her two brothers to a dam, under the pretext of conducting prayers,” she said.
“When they arrived at the dam the accused person instructed the boys to collect water and stones.
“The accused person remained behind and raped the complainant. On another date unknown by the prosecutor but during the month of January 2025, the complainant was alone at home when the accused person came to her residence and found her in the kitchen. The accused then pinned the complainant on the ground and raped her,” she told the court.
Ms Sithole said the accused further took the complainant to the toilet and raped her again. She said the complainant informed her brother upon his return from the fields. The brother further informed their mother.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused person.
—@DubeMatutu
