Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI – Magistrate Judith Zuyu has sentenced a 37-year-old man from Mateko village under Chief Ndanga to 90 years in prison after he pleaded guilty to raping his own 13-year-old daughter six times.
The victim, who is doing grade seven at a primary school in Zaka, cannot be named in this story as it is unethical to do so.
Her rape ordeal, however, became open when she confided in her guidance and counselling teacher who then helped her to file a police report.
The State, represented by Edmore Mbavaira charged that in February this year, the complainant’s mother, who also cannot be named to protect her child, went to her parents homestead in Muchechetere village and left her daughter and other two children in the company of their father.
The accused person, who too cannot be identified to protect the victim, grabbed the child when the other two children had slept, fondled her breasts before lying her down on the reed mat to have sexual intercourse with her.
On March 2018, the accused person was at home when the complainant arrived from school and asked him to assist her with her school homework. After the accused person had finished assisting the complainant, he held her and laid her on the floor before raping her.
On another day in April, the complainant’s mother visited her parents and left the accused with the complainant and other two children.
The complainant then went to the accused person’s room to collect her book but the accused grabbed and raped her.
In June, the complaint’s mother also left home for a funeral in Chinhuru area, Zaka, and again left the complainant in the care of the accused person who, in the evening, grabbed and raped her twice.
Early last month (August) the accused raped the complainant after assisting her with her homework but the victim revealed everything to her teacher on September 04.
In all the six counts, the accused threatened the victim against reporting the rape to anyone.
On passing the judgement, Zuyu suspended 15 years of the sentence for five years on condition the accused does not, within that period, commit any offence involving sexual conduct, meaning he will serve a solid 75 years in prison.local
