Father in court for raping daughter

Michael Mashiri

A father, who claimed that he should sleep with his daughter before she gets married, arguing that it was what their tradition suggests, has been taken to court.

The 44-year-old man from Churu Farm, appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts charged with rape.

The complainant in this matter is a 17-year-old juvenile.

The State, through prosecutor Anesu Chirenje, alleges that in 2013, in Glen View 8, Harare when the complainant was in Grade One, the accused was left with the complainant when her mother had gone to Zambia to buy goods for sale.

It is alleged that the accused removed the complainant's clothes, lifted her and placed her on his stomach and raped her.

The complainant cried but was ordered to be quiet.

After the act, she did not tell anyone about the matter.

The State alleges that on December 3, 2023, at around 2200 hours, he accused was with the complainant at their place in Churu Farm, Harare when the complainant's mother had gone to an all-night prayer.

It is alleged that he accused went to the complainant, who was watching television, and told her that family tradition dictated that the fathers should first have sex with their daughters before they get married.

He then told complainant that he wanted her to hold his private part and he directed her to the spare bedroom.

The accused allegedly closed the complainant’s eyes with a cloth and removed her skirt and pant.

He then took her right hand and made her touch his private part.

In a related matter, a Glen Norah man, who allegedly raped his daughter, claiming it was a ritual to heal him and his son, has been taken to court.

The accused appeared before magistrate Stanford Mambanje at the Harare Magistrates' Courts charged with rape.

The complainant in this matter is a 15-year-old juvenile.

The State, through prosecutor Anesu Chirenje, alleges that on January 3, 2022, at around 1500 hours, the complainant was staying with accused and her step-mother in KZN Richards Bay South Africa.

It is alleged that Musiiwa then told the complainant that he wanted to bond with her and to also boost the bond by doing rituals.

He then took a banana leaf and soaked it in water, spread some liquids on a towel and used it to bath the complainant with.

After bathing her, he ordered the complainant to lie down on the floor in the dining room and went on top of the complainant without clothes and raped her telling her that he wanted to remove her virginity to complete the ritual.

The accused raped complainant several times on different occasions saying that he was healing himself as well as curing her step-brother who was not feeling well.

The State alleges that in December 2022, complainant relocated to Zimbabwe with her family and they started staying at a Glen Norah house.

The accused entered the complainant's room during the night and she told him that his rituals were over and she no longer wanted to have sex with him.

The accused persisted stating that his illness will continue if she refused.

During the night, he entered her bedroom and he started fondling and sucking complainant’s breast before ordering her to remove all her clothes.

He also removed his and raped her several times on different occasions without her consent.

On January 14, 2024, she opted to escape from home and went to her uncle in Epworth, where she disclosed the matter to him and he escorted her to the police and filed a report.

The accused was remanded in custody.