Father in court for raping 13-year-old daughter

Michael Mashiri

A man who raped his 13-year-old daughter and told her that if the matter was reported to the police he would kill himself has been denied bail.

The 41-year-old man from Epworth, appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Courts facing indecent assault and rape allegations.

He will appear in court on February 6.

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

The State alleges that in April 2022, the complainant was alone in the kitchen when the accused grabbed both her arms and dragged her to his bedroom.

While in the bedroom, he pushed her on the bed and started fondling her breasts.

He was forced to stop when the complainant’s young brother barged into the room.

In August 2022, around noon, the complainant was with the accused and she went to his bedroom so that he could help her with homework.

While inside the room, he accused suddenly grabbed and pushed her on the bed and raped her.

After the act, he allegedly threatened to kill the complainant if she disclosed the matter to anyone.

She was then given a white pill for her to swallow and complied.

In April 2023, it is alleged that the complainant was alone again in the kitchen and the accused approached her, started kissing her and fondling her breasts without her consent.

The complainant did not tell anyone as she was afraid of him.

In August 2023, the complainant was asleep alone in her room when the accused barged into her room and forcibly removed her clothes and she stood up.

Mushongera then pushed her against the wall and raped her.

He threatened to kill her if she disclosed the matter.

In November 2023, at around midday, while the complainant was playing outside the house with her young brother, he accused then called the complainant into his bedroom.

When the complainant got inside the house, the accused lifted her skirt and forcibly removed complainant’s pant and raped her.

The matter came to light in November 2023 when the accused discovered that the complainant had a boyfriend and he started assaulting her.

The complainant then divulged the matter to her mother that the accused had abused her on several occasions.

The complainant then confronted him and he threatened to commit suicide if the complainant’s mother reported the case.