Teenager jailed 16 years for attempted rape

AN 18-year-old from Gutu in Masvingo Province has been sentenced to 16 years in prison after being convicted of attempted rape following two incidents involving a woman from Mberengwa.

Emmanuel Gwarazimba, of Mukadziwashe Village under Chief Gutu, appeared before Zvishavane Regional Magistrate Mr Tayengwa Sangster facing one count of attempted rape.
He pleaded guilty to the charge.

Mr Sangster subsequently sentenced him to 16 years in prison.
Prosecutor Mr Isheanopa Mashayanye told the court that the offence took place in Shayamavhudzi Village under Chief Bvute in Mberengwa.

The court heard that the complainant, whose identity has been withheld for legal reasons, was not related to Gwarazimba.
According to the State, the first incident occurred on May 23 shortly after midnight.

The complainant was asleep in her bedroom when Gwarazimba arrived at her homestead and knocked on her window.
“The accused person requested the complainant to open the door so that they could have sexual intercourse and she refused,” said Mr Mashayanye.

The court heard that after being refused entry, Gwarazimba allegedly used an unknown object to break down the door before entering the room.

Prosecutors said he then forced the complainant onto her bed.
“The accused removed the complainant’s sleeping gown.

The complainant was left putting on a skin-tight before the accused person also removed his clothes,” he said.
Mr Mashayanye told the court that Gwarazimba attempted to rape the complainant by pushing aside her skin-tight clothing but failed to penetrate her.

He allegedly ejaculated between her legs before leaving.
The matter resurfaced a month later when Gwarazimba allegedly returned to the complainant’s homestead.

The court heard that on June 24, shortly after midnight, he again approached the complainant’s window and began speaking to her.

Mr Mashayanye said he told her that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with her, as he had previously intended.
The accused allegedly climbed onto the window ledge and tried to untie a wire securing the window.

During the encounter, the complainant managed to grab a brown woollen hat he was wearing.
The court heard that she was also able to see his face and noticed that he had dreadlocks before he fled from the scene.

The complainant later reported the matter to police, who launched investigations.
Evidence before the court showed that the hat recovered at the scene belonged to Gwarazimba.

Police later tracked him down and, according to the State, he admitted committing the offence, leading to his arrest.
Following his guilty plea and conviction, Mr Sangster sentenced him to 16 years’ imprisonment.