34-year-old man rapes a 12-year-old juvenile

Michael Mashiri

A 34-year-old man, who allegedly raped a 12-year-old juvenile after calling her claiming he wanted to give her money he owed her mother, has been denied bail.

Moses Sithole, 34, of New Mabvuku, appeared before magistrate Donald Ndirowei at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with rape.

The complainant in this matter is a 12-year-old juvenile.

The State, through prosecutor Anesu Chirenje, alleges that in October 2023, at around 1200 hours, the complainant met Sithole at a car park on her way to fetch water from a nearby borehole.

Sithole called the complainant, claiming that he wanted to give her money for the chickens he had borrowed from her mother.

It is alleged that complainant refused and told Sithole to give her mother the money.

Sithole reportedly pulled the complainant into a parked car at that point and locked the car doors.

Sithole allegedly covered the complainant’s mouth with a cloth to prevent her from screaming.

It is alleged that Sithole then removed her clothes and started fondling her breasts, pulled his trousers down and raped her with protection.

After the act, it is alleged that Sithole went out of the car to buy a condom, leaving the complainant alone.

The girl ran away from him at that point, but she did not disclose the matter to anyone.

The State alleges that on January 3, the complainant met Sithole at a car park and called her again claiming that he wanted to give her money he still owed her mother.

Sithole then started fondling the complainant’s breasts and during the process, he was seen by a woman who told the complainant’s mother, leading to Sithole’s arrest.

Sithole was ordered to appear in court on February 19 and was advised to apply for bail at the High Court.