53-year-old man rapes minor, asks for her hand in ...

53-year-old man rapes minor, asks for her hand in marriage

Tariro Tumbukayi

A 53-year-old man from Bulawayo was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for raping his 11-year- old neighbour on February 29, 2024.

In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe said that the complainant on the day of the incident was watching movies with her friends at the accused person’s home and the complainant’s friends left her alone at the place where the accused person called her to his room and dragged her to his bed before he raped her.

“On the 29th of February 2024, the complainant was watching movies with her friends at the accused person’s place of residence where the accused person called her to his room and dragged her to his bed before raping her”, reads the statement.

“The incident came to surface when the complainant told her mother what transpired after the complainant asked for the complainant’s hand in marriage from her father and claiming that he once had sexual relations with her.

“The matter came to light when the accused person approached the complainant’s father and asked for her hand in marriage saying that he once had sexual relations with her.

“The complaint’s father told her mother who then asked the complainant about the accused person’s claims.

“The complainant confided in her mother about the incident.

“The matter was reported to the police, leading to the accused person’s arrest,” read the statement.

Meanwhile in another case, a 23-year-old man from Mozambique was sentenced to 16 years' imprisonment for rape.

It is alleged that the complainant aged 13 was on her way from their homestead to their nearby business centre in Chipinge when she was ambushed by the accused before he raped her at knifepoint.

The complainant was rescued by a passer-by while she was crying for help and the accused ran away immediately when he saw the passerby.

“On the 12th of March 2024 the complainant (13) was on her way from their homestead to a nearby Business Centre in Chipinge when she was ambushed by the accused person.

“He grabbed her by the shoulders and dragged her to a nearby bush where he threatened her with a knife before raping her.

“The complainant cried for help and she was rescued by a passerby.

“Upon seeing the passerby the accused person grabbed his clothes and ran away,” the NPA said.

The matter was reported to the police and investigations led to the arrest of the accused person.