Man jailed 20 years for raping own daughter

Michael Mashiri

A father who raped his daughter, claiming that if she did not agree, he was going to kill himself, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Robert Taipa, 59, of Ushewokunze, Waterfalls, appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Courts accused of rape.

The complainant in this case a 13-year-old juvenile.

The State alleges that in May 2023, Taipa’s wife, step-mother to the complainant and his young brother, left home for Budiriro, leaving the complainant and her 10-year-old brother with Taipa.

At around 2000 hours the same day, Taipa, told the complainant to go and sleep in his bedroom since he was going to work on night shift.

She complied and went to sleep in her father’s bedroom together with her 10 year old brother.

It is alleged that Taipa did not go to work but went to the bedroom and told complainant that he wanted to have sex with her and if she refused he would kill himself, but she refused and continued with her sleep.

The following morning, she woke up and saw white discharge on her private part and pant while the blankets were also wet.

Complainant asked Taipa what had happened and he her told that he had sexual intercourse with her while she was sleeping.

The State alleges that in June 2023, Taipa started fondling complainant’s breasts and buttocks, removed his trousers and pant as well as complainant’s pant and raped her.

She kept quiet about the issue, fearing her father will kill himself.

Taipa repeated the act on several other occasions, sometimes during the day when she returned from school.

On June 25, 2023, at around 2000 hours, a community care worker and another member of the community, went to Taipa’s house after a tip-off.

One of the community members took the complainant outside the room and that is when she disclosed the sexual abuse after which she was escorted her to Southlea Park Police Station to file a report of rape, leading to Taipa’s arrest.