72-year old impregnates 14-year-old granddaughter

Patience Muzhingi

ZVISHAVANE – A 72-year old grandfather raped and impregnated his
14-year-old granddaughter before forcing her to implicate an innocent man.

The elderly man, of Gunyani Village
under Chief Masunda, appeared before resident magistrate Archie Wochiunga
facing charges of rape as defined in Section 65 of the Criminal Law (Codification
and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23.

He pleaded not guilty to the
charges and was remanded in custody to a later date for continuation of trial.

It is the State’s case, as presented
by prosecutor Eunice Muderedzwa, that on October 22, police received a report
that in the period extending from January to June this year, the accused was
staying with his 14-year old granddaughter.

It was heard that the accused told
the victim that he could give her food only if she had sexual intercourse with
him. The complainant agreed to the demands and they had sexual intercourse
several times on different occasions.

The court further heard that the
girl fell pregnant and the accused concealed the offense by ordering the
complainant to elope to another person.

The victim later gave birth but the
baby died and was buried at the accused’s homestead before the complainant
divulged the secret to her mother who then made a police report leading to the
arrest.