Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya
A 67-YEAR-OLD man from Zhovhe area has been jailed for 15 years after he was found guilty of raping a 14-year-old mentally challenged girl.
The elderly man, whose identity is withheld to protect the survivor, lured the girl and her sister to his homestead under the pretext of offering them breakfast before dragging the victim to a bushy area and raping her while her sister watched. He later raped her again inside his shack.
Despite denying the charges, the Beitbridge Regional Court convicted him after overwhelming evidence proved his guilt.
The victim’s mother reported the matter to police, leading to his swift arrest. The court handed him a 15-year sentence, saying the punishment must serve as a deterrent to others who prey on vulnerable minors.
Authorities urged families to speak out, report abuse immediately, and support victims rather than hiding cases out of fear
