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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A 26-YEAR-OLD man from Matole area in Mangwe allegedly raped his two step daughters aged two and four years and then blamed evil spirits for his sordid acts. The man told the police when they arrested him that the devil had influenced him to sexually abuse his two children.

It is alleged that the man committed the crime after his wife had left the minors in his care while she had gone to a nearby clinic.

He then threatened to beat up the two children if they reported the matter to their mother. The man also hid the clothes which the children were wearing when he allegedly raped them.

The woman discovered the offence after her youngest daughter complained of pains in her private parts.

She also found some blood stains on the clothes of her four-year-old daughter three days later.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of his victims, appeared on initial remand before Plumtree magistrate, Gideon Ruvetsa, facing two counts of rape.

He was remanded in custody to June 2.

Prosecuting, Clemence Shawarira said the children’s mother questioned her daughters who later revealed that their father had raped them.

“On 13 May while his wife had gone to the clinic in the morning, the accused person called his two daughters into his bedroom hut and locked them inside with him. He first raped his four-year-old daughter while the youngest was watching,” said Shawarira.

He said the man went on to rape his youngest daughter while his first victim watched.

Shawarira said the man then bathed the two children and ordered them to remain quiet about the offence. He said the man also threatened to beat them up if they told anyone about the crime.

Shawarira said the two-year-old juvenile started complaining of pains in her private parts and upon inspecting her, the mother discovered a rash.

The court heard that the woman then found some clothes belonging to her eldest daughter which had some blood stains hidden in their bedroom hut.

Shawarira said the woman reported the matter to the police resulting in her husband’s arrest.

Cases of close relatives who sexually abuse young girls are on the increase in Bulilima and Mangwe districts.

In a recent incident, a 23-year-old man from Dombodema area in Bulilima District appeared in court for allegedly raping his two daughters aged seven months and eight years during their mother’s absence.

The man who allegedly raped the two children on several occasions would take advantage of his wife’s absence to commit his evil deed.

He would threaten to beat the older child if she revealed the matter to anyone. The case is still before the courts.