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A SERIAL rapist who raped 13 women in Harare and robbed them of their valuables will die in prison after a Harare regional magistrate slapped him with an effective 230-year jail term.Thomas Brighton Chirembwe, 30, was jailed for 20 years for each rape and 10 years for each count of unlawful entry and armed robbery by regional magistrate Simon Rojers Kachambwa for a total sentence of 290 years.
Sixty years were conditionally suspended. Even if he earns the normal one third off for good behaviour behind bars, Chirembwe will still face 153 years and four months.
He raped the women without protection in Cranborne, Hatfield and Queensdale over 15 months until November last year. Only two of his victims deflected his assault, one by praying and the other by lying that she was HIV positive.
On hearing the sentence, Chirembwe remained calm but his relatives wept uncontrollably outside the courtroom as one of the longest sentences ever imposed in Zimbabwe was read out. But some of the victims who had come hoping for justice celebrated.
In passing sentence, Kachambwa described Chirembwe’s actions as worse than of a wild animal. He said a wild animal shows respect to its victims for it does not kill unless it has to and it only kills for food but Chirembwe as a married man did not rape out of need but for the sake of it.
“In aggravation, the offences you committed are all serious, namely unlawful entry in aggravated circumstances and use of weapons such as a knife, iron bar and spanners to threaten the victims,” the magistrate said.
“In your criminal acts, you also raped the women and stole their cash and valuables hence there is no doubt that you had turned crime into a profession, earning yourself a living. I agree with the state that rape is the worst form of invasion of privacy and robbery is a very traumatic experience.
“A long custodial sentence, which will remove you from the society, is the most appropriate one.”
In mitigation, Chirembwe, who was not represented, had pleaded for the court’s leniency and asked for a short jail term.
He told the magistrate: “Your worship, I’m a married man with three minor children and the youngest is four years old. I would like a sentence which will allow me to come back and look after my family.”
Kachambwa asked him how many years he thought were appropriate to meet the justice of the offences and Chirembwe replied that it was up to the court.
Prosecutor Michael Reza said Chirembwe deserved more than 90 years behind bars. He gave reference to a previous case in which an armed robber and rapist Mulamuleli Mpofu was convicted of 19 counts of rape and armed robbery and was sentenced to 90 years behind bars. Chirembwe deserved more than 90 years considering that he was convicted of 21 counts, he added.
“From September 18, 2011 to November 6, 2012, Chirembwe was a one-man urban terrorist unlawfully entering people’s houses robbing them and raping the women,” he charged.
“He moved around with appropriate tools of trade that is an iron bar, knife, spanners and his manhood in his trousers. The crimes were pre-planned.”
After hearing submissions from both parties, Kachambwa concurred with the state and effected 230 years. Chirembwe was facing 30 counts. He was not tried on nine counts after witnesses failed to show up. He ended up facing 21 counts and after hearing the evidence, Kachambwa convicted him on all counts.
Online Reporter