Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Zimpapers Writer
A ZVISHAVANE court has handed two herd boys from Mberengwa District in the Midlands Province a combined 30-year prison sentence after convicting them of raping minor girls in separate incidents.
Appearing before Zvishavane regional magistrate Mr Tavengwa Sangster, Tapiwa Dube (24) of Chief Mazvihwa area was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment for raping an eight-year-old girl.
Dube had pleaded not guilty to the charge but was convicted following a full trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Isheanesu Mashaya told the court that on March 21 last year at around 11PM, Dube unlawfully entered a bedroom hut where the complainant was asleep on the floor with her 10-year-old sister, while their 14-year-old brother slept on the bed.
The court heard that Dube sneaked into the complainant’s blankets and raped her.
The complainant screamed for help, prompting her brother to wake up and switch on the light.
“The complainant’s brother got out of his bedroom and proceeded to his mother’s bedroom where he alerted her,” said Mr Mashaya.
Mr Mashaya said the complainant’s mother got out of the room and found Dube at the door putting on his slippers on and switched on the light.
The court heard that the mother asked Dube what he wanted, but he did not respond and walked away.
Mr Mashaya said the accused’s camouflage cap was recovered in the bedroom hut near where the complainant was sleeping. A report was made to the police, leading to Dube’s arrest.
Siyabonga Tshuma (18) from Zikali Village, Chief Nyamhondo, also employed as a herdboy, was jailed for 15 years by the same magistrate.
Tshuma pleaded not guilty to the charge and was convicted after a full trial.
It was the State’s case that sometime in December last year, Tshuma proposed love to the complainant, who is aged 12 old and she “agreed.”
The court heard that Tshuma later invited the girl to his bedroom during the night and she agreed.
“On that particular night, the complainant lied to her mother that she was going to the toilet when she was actually going to Tshuma’s bedroom,” said Mr Mashaya.
While at Tshuma’s bedroom, the two slept together. The complainant at law is incapable of consenting to sexual intercourse.
“From that day onwards, the two ‘lovers’ continued to sleep together on several occasions.
The matter came to light after the complainant’s mother saw the complainant’s video singing that
‘Siyabonga Tshuma I love you with all my heart’”.
The complainant’s mother then quizzed the complainant about the video, during which she opened up that she had sex with Tshuma.
A report was made to the police, leading to Tshuma’s arrest and the complainant was referred to the hospital for medical examination.
Bongani Ndlovu