adminSukulwenkosi Dube, Plumtree Correspondent
A TEENAGER from Mangwe District in Matabeleland South allegedly raped his seven-year-old cousin in the middle of the night while she was sleeping in the same bedroom hut as her mother and siblings.
The 18 year-old Abekhona Ncube from Sanzukwi, a court heard, gained access into the locked bedroom hut through a window around 11PM.
He allegedly found the juvenile’s mother sleeping on the bed and the children sleeping on the floor.
The woman only realised the offence when she woke up to see someone leaving the bedroom hut through the door.
The supect appeared on initial remand before Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa facing rape charges.
The magistrate remanded him in custody to October 26.
Prosecuting, Clemence Shawarira said the teenager raped his cousin sister on October 5.
He left through the door and the woman woke up startled by the noise of a door opening, the court heard.
The prosecutor said the suspect fled from the homestead but the juvenile’s mother had spotted him.
Shawarira said the woman realised that her daughter had been raped and reported the issue to the police leading to his arrest.
In another incident, a Bulilima man allegedly raped his girlfriend’s four-year-old daughter several times in the woman’s bedroom hut after she had left her child under his custody.
The woman learnt of the rape after the juvenile told her Ackim Ndlovu had abused her on a number of occasions.
Ndlovu of Tokwana area appeared on initial remand before the same magistrate facing rape charges.
He was remanded in custody to October 20.
The juvenile’s mother reportedly entrusted the safety of her daughter in her lover’s hands on several occasions while she carried out some errands.
Prosecuting, Clemence Shawarira said Ndlovu was arrested on August 25 after the matter came to light.
“Ndlovu would remain alone with the juvenile at her girlfriend’s house while the mother would carry out some errands.
“The man would call the girl into her mother’s bedroom hut and rape her.
“He repeated this several times and each time he would warn the juvenile against reporting. The juvenile finally reported the matter to her mother resulting in Ndlovu’s arrest,” he said.
Online Reporter