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Danisa Masuku
A MAN who appeared in court facing six counts of aggravated indecent assault charges after he “played with minors’ genitals and had anal sex with them” has been convicted and jailed.
Mkhululi Moyo (31) from Nyamandlovu in Matabeleland North Province appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Mathew Mutiro for trial and pleaded not guilty to all counts. However, he was found guilty of all charges. All the counts were treated as one. Moyo was then slapped with a 20-year jail sentence.
The magistrate suspended two years on condition of good behaviour for a period of five years. He will effectively serve 18 years in jail. In sentencing him, the magistrate said Moyo was evil and a heartless man who emotionally and physically “injured” the minors who had trust in him. He said the children viewed him as their uncle but he decided to betray the trust and sexually attacked them. The magistrate said the minors were left traumatised and withdrawn while their performance at school dropped dismally.
In his defence, Moyo claimed he previously had a strained relationship with the complainant’s parents, which has remained tense ever since their unclear disagreement. He further alleged that the parents fabricated the accusations to get back at him.
The court heard that on 11 November last year at around 11.30am, a 10-year-old boy was coming from church heading to his home when he met Moyo. It is said Moyo asked the minor to accompany him to a nearby bush, and the minor agreed. When they were in the thicket he grabbed the minor and removed his pair of trousers before sexually attacking him. After that, the boy went to his home where upon arrival he narrated the ordeal to his parents.
The court also heard that sometime in November last year, on a date unknown to the prosecutor, Moyo saw a 11-year-old neighbour playing in the yard and called him to his home. The unsuspecting boy rushed to Moyo where upon arrival he dragged him to his bedroom where they watched a movie and he later played with the minor’s genitals, the court heard. After that, he had anal sex with the minor and after the act, he promised to buy him sweets and biscuits. The court heard that sometime in December last year, on a date unknown to the prosecutor, Moyo once again called the minor to his home where he reportedly sexually attacked him.
After that, he allegedly ordered him not to disclose the matter to anyone. But the minor reported him to his aunt. The court heard that on the fourth occasion, Moyo approached his neighbour, a grandmother and requested that her teenage grandson spend the night at his home. The seemingly unsuspicious grandmother agreed. It is said during the night, Moyo woke up and rubbed his manhood against the boy’s thighs and had anal sex with him prompting the boy to wake up. The court heard that the minor screamed and bolted out of the room prompting neighbours to besiege his home.
It is further alleged that sometime in December last year, on a date unknown, Moyo met a 15-year-old boy near his home and asked the boy to accompany him to his garden. When they arrived in the garden, he asked the boy to take off his pair of shorts, rubbed his manhood against the boy’s thighs and also played with his genitals. He is alleged to have begged the minor not to reveal the incident to anyone. However, the boy disclosed the ordeal to his mother.
It is said that sometime in December last year, on a separate unknown date, Moyo allegedly lured an eight-year-old boy to his home. It is alleged that upon arrival, Moyo ordered the boy to remove his clothes but he refused. He allegedly grabbed his genitals and played with them. After a few minutes, he released the boy. The boy headed to his home and reported the matter to his parents. The matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of Moyo.
Online Reporter