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Sylvester Chiramba,  Court Reporter
A 34-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo has been arrested for allegedly raping his 26-year-old niece in Magwegwe suburb following an anonymous tip-off through a letter that was placed in a suggestion box.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victim, allegedly raped his niece in November last year.

The woman was allegedly left at her uncle’s house while her mother was attending a funeral service in Masvingo.

The uncle allegedly took advantage of the woman’s mother’s absence and raped her once.

The man was not asked to plead when he appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Mr Lungile Ncube facing rape charges.

Mr Ncube remanded him in custody to Monday for a provision of a trial date at the regional court.

Prosecuting, Mr Petros Shoko said sometime in November last year, the woman’s mother left her at her uncle’s house in Magwegwe suburb while she attended a funeral service in Masvingo.

“The accused took advantage and called the woman to his bedroom during the night where he raped her once without protection,” said Mr Shoko

“In January this year the complainant went to her rural areas to visit her younger sister and grandmother. During a conversation with her grandmother she mentioned that she was raped by  her uncle and nothing had been done to him.”

The court heard that the matter came to light through an anonymous tip off from a suggestion box at a police station and the matter was investigated leading to the accused person’s arrest.

The woman was referred to Mpilo Central Hospital for medical examination and a medical report may be produced in court as evidence. — @SlyCee10