Woman 84 jailed for rape

Yeukai Karengezeka

Court Correspondent

AN 84-year-old woman from Mufakose, Harare, has been sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison for repeatedly raping a mentally-challenged 17-year-old boy.

Erica Gurure was convicted following a full trial conducted by Harare regional magistrate Mrs Letwin Rwodzi.

The court heard that Gurure attacked the boy, who lives in her neighbourhood, and sexually assaulted him on multiple occasions.

Prosecutor Ms Cecelia Mashingaidze emphasised the gravity of the offence in her sentencing submission on aggravation.

“She is old enough to be his grandmother and is a person of authority who preyed on a vulnerable juvenile with mental challenges. Despite being a first-time offender, she chose to commit such a heinous crime and must face the consequences,” said Ms Mashingaidze.

The State proved that sometime last year, Gurure approached the victim while on his way home from school.

She asked him to accompany her to her house on the pretext of needing assistance and he complied.

Upon arrival, Gurure led the boy to her bedroom, where she assaulted him without protection and consent.

The assaults continued on several occasions, with Gurure giving the boy money to buy his silence.

However, the crime came to light when Gurure instructed the boy to travel to Ruwa, an unfamiliar area to him, following one of the assaults.

The boy became stranded and was found crying in a maize field by passers-by.

When questioned, he revealed the assaults he had suffered at Gurure’s hands. The matter was reported to the police, leading to Gurure’s arrest and subsequent trial.