Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau
A 34-YEAR-OLD South Africa returnee has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping his nine-year-old relative in Gweru 15 years ago.
Gweru Regional Magistrate Mr Christopher Maturure sentenced the accused, whose name is being withheld to protect the complainant, after convicting him on four counts of rape.
The accused, who pleaded not guilty to all the charges, was convicted after a full trial.
Mr Maturure sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment on each count, with two of the sentences running concurrently, resulting in an effective 20-year jail term.
In passing sentence, Mr Maturure cited the child’s tender age and vulnerability, the significant age difference between her and the accused, and the betrayal of family trust as aggravating circumstances warranting a lengthy custodial sentence.
The court heard that the accused was 19 when he committed the offences against the nine-year-old girl, who was his relative.
He sexually abused the child between June and August 2011 at a house in Gweru.
The accused fled to South Africa after committing the offences, resulting in the case remaining unresolved for about 15 years.
He was eventually arrested after returning to Zimbabwe during a period of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, paving the way for the long-delayed prosecution.
The court heard that the accused took advantage of occasions when the child’s grandmother travelled to South Africa on cross-border business to sexually abuse the girl.
Mr Maturure commended the State for its presentation of the case, particularly prosecutor Ms Eggrina Matutu, whose detailed courtroom work resulted in the accused being convicted beyond reasonable doubt.
Ms Matutu urged the court to impose a lengthy custodial sentence, citing the child’s age and vulnerability, the significant age difference between her and the accused, and the betrayal of family trust.
She further submitted that the child was legally incapable of consenting to sexual intercourse.
“The long custodial sentence should bring an end to a case that had been delayed for about 15 years after the accused fled to South Africa,” said Ms Matutu.
ENDS
