By Rangarirai Shanyurai
A 27-year-old man from Chivi recently appeared before Masvingo Regional Magistrate Bishard Chineka facing charges of raping his female cousin.
Chineka remanded the accused person (name withheld to protect victim) in custody for continuation of trial on October 5, 2024.
It is the state’s case as presented by Prosecutor Liberty Hove that the accused who is a cousin to the complainant proposed love to the complainant sometime in April this year, which she turned down.
On June 6, at around 1230 hours the accused went to the complainant’s homestead knowing that her parents were not around and that she was with her young brother and grandmother.
The accused found the complainant in the kitchen while she was alone cooking then followed her to the bedroom where she had gone to collect soya chunks that she wanted to cook.
He followed up on his proposal but the complainant denied. He blocked her from going out of the bedroom, closed the door and raped her.
After the incident, the accused threatened to assault the complainant if she revealed the matter to anyone.
The complainant later told the accused person that she had missed her period, after which the accused’s wife later learnt about the pregnancy and informed the minor’s parents.
The complainant’s mother reported the matter to police on July 8 leading to the arrest of the accused.
