Zimpapers Logo

Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
AN ex-convict yesterday told a Gwanda magistrate that he raped a 91-year-old woman as he found her attractive as she was wearing a mini-skirt. Nicholas Ndlovu, 35, of Tshapo area in Matobo, who was recently released from Khami prison, admitted to raping the elderly woman when he appeared before Gwanda regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza. Ndlovu was released in October last year after serving some years in prison for impregnating a minor.

“I admit to the offence but I don’t know what got into me. It just befell me and saw myself committing that offence. I found her attractive Your Worship and didn’t know she was 91. One could not tell that she is that old,” he said.

“I thought she was younger than that because she was wearing a mini-skirt which attracted me to her”, Ndlovu said.

Asked by the magistrate whether he was not scared of being at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or HIV during the commission of the offence, Ndlovu said, “It never crossed my mind.”

In mitigation, he told the court that he was a widower and a father of three.

Ndlovu was remanded in custody to today after the State represented by regional prosecutor Johannes Tlou indicated that it needed to check on Ndlovu’s previous convictions. The court heard how Ndlovu raped the old woman at her homestead while she was alone after asking for water to drink.

“On November 23, 2014 at around 3PM, the accused passed through the complainant’s homestead and found her alone. The accused approached the complainant and asked for some drinking water,” said Tlou.

“The complainant got into her kitchen hut and brought the accused a cup of water. The accused person drank the water and asked for some more.”

The old woman went back into the kitchen to fetch some more water for Ndlovu.

Ndlovu followed her into the kitchen and ordered her to lie down after threatening to kill her if she did not comply.

She complied and Ndlovu forcibly had sexual intercourse with her once.

“The accused person threatened to come back at night and kill the complainant if she told anyone about the matter,” added the prosecutor.

The woman informed her neighbour of the incident as soon as Ndlovu had left.

They advised the area traditional leader, Chief Masuku, about the rape and he in turn reported the matter to the police leading to Ndlovu’s arrest.