The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata Senior Reporter
A 20-YEAR-OLD Honde Valley man who raped his 10-year-old sister on three consecutive days pleaded for leniency before a Rusape regional magistrate, saying he was high on mbanje when he committed the crimes.
The suspect – who cannot be named – was slapped with a 10-year jail term after he pleaded guilty to forcing himself on his sister in May. In passing the sentence, regional magistrate, Mr Livingstone Chipadza, said the accused who comes from Pajiche Village did not waste the court’s time by pleading guilty to the offences and that he showed remorse.
Although he was facing three counts of rape, the cases were bundled together as one for purposes of sentencing. District public prosecutor, Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira, told the court that the accused raped his sister in May.
“The complainant and her younger sister were left in the custody of the accused person after their parents went away to attend a church conference. On May 1 in the afternoon at around 12pm, the accused called the complainant and asked her to sweep his room. He followed her and raped her once. He repeated the crime the following day and did the same on the third day,” said Mr Mutyasira.
After committing the crimes he threatened the minor with assault if she ever revealed the cases to anyone. “On May 6, the complainant disclosed the matter to her uncle who promised to act, but he did nothing. The following day her parents came back from the church conference and she reported the cases to them. A police report was made leading to his arrest,” said Mr Mutyasira.
In mitigation, the suspect pleaded for leniency, saying he was under the influence of mbanje when he committed the crimes and told the regional magistrate that he would not repeat his actions in future.
Of the 10 years, Mr Chipadza suspended two years on condition of behaviour.
