Online Reporter
Getrude Manyande, [email protected]
A 20-year-old Bulawayo man who raped his 12-year-old niece on two occasions has been sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment.
The man, from Njube suburb, who cannot be named to protect the minor’s identity, was convicted of two counts of rape by Western Commonage Regional Magistrate Mr Pasipanodya Maturure, who sentenced him to 15 years’ imprisonment on each count, bringing the total sentence to 30 years.
In passing sentence, the magistrate said the accused had betrayed the trust placed in him by the girl’s parents when he raped her.
“The accused’s duty as an uncle was to protect the complainant, but instead he abused her and exposed her to the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections,” said Mr Maturure.
Prosecuting, Ms Christina Manyika told the court that sometime last year, the complainant was sleeping in her grandfather’s bedroom when the accused entered the room, forcibly removed her clothes and raped her.
After committing the offence, the accused threatened to assault the complainant if she disclosed the abuse to anyone.
The matter came to light when the complainant started complaining of stomach pains to her teacher and disclosed that she had been sexually abused by her uncle.
The teacher reported the matter at Njube Police Station and investigations led to the accused’s arrest.
The complainant was subsequently taken to hospital for medical examination.
