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Tanaka Mrewa, Court Reporter
A 31-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man has been sentenced to 20 years for raping two of his neighbours’ daughters and infecting them with a sexually-transmitted infection.

A Bulawayo magistrate heard that the man whose name has been withheld to protect the identity of his victims raped the two minors aged five and six years.

Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Chrispen Mberewere convicted the man despite his plea of not guilty.

Mr Mberewere sentenced him to 20 years in jail, but suspended four years on condition of good behaviour for the next five years.

In his defence the man said there was bad blood between his wife and their two neighbours hence they had framed him.

Representing the State, Mr Simbarashe Manyiwa said the rape came to light on February 6 when a maid at the six year old’s house noticed some whitish discharge on the minor’s undergarments.

“On a date unknown to the prosecutor, accused called the two complainants and told them to come and play with his children at his house. The complainants went to accused’s house but did not find his children. Accused took turns to rape the two minors,” said Mr Manyiwa.

“A maid noticed some whitish discharge on the six-year-old and notified her mother. The mother interviewed the minor and she narrated how accused had lured her and the five-year-old to his house and raped them.”

Mr Manyiwa said the mother approached the five-year-old’s mother and narrated what her daughter had told her.

“The mother of the five-year-old interviewed her daughter on the matter and she confirmed that she had been sexually abused by the accused. A police report was made and the minors were referred to United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH). Medical reports attained confirmed that both children had been sexually abused and infected with an STI,” he said.

— @tannytkay