Zimpapers Logo

Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
A 13-YEAR-OLD girl whose grandfather allegedly habitually raped her for six months until she fell pregnant, went into labour outside a courtroom moments before she was due to testify against him.

The girl, who cannot be named for ethical reasons, was rushed to St Patrick’s Hospital in Hwange where she was immediately admitted into the maternity ward.

According to her medical documents, she was due to deliver on December 19, a day after she was at court on December 18.

It could not be established yesterday if the girl, who was doing Grade Seven at Simakade Primary School under Chief Mvuthu, had given birth.

Prosecutors and doctors reportedly agreed that she be allowed to give birth before the trial could kick off and the matter will now continue by way of summons.

Her grandfather, 63, who cannot be named to protect her, is from Kenani Village in Jenkwe under Chief Mvuthu.

He was given free bail.

The girl was staying with her maternal grandparents while her mother lives in a neighbouring village in BH 26.

The grandfather is facing five counts of rape after he allegedly sexually abused the minor girl starting in January until in June this year when the pregnancy was noticed by some neighbours.

He allegedly threatened to assault the girl if she told anyone, after each alleged rape incident.

According to the State outline, the elderly man would abuse the girl when her grandmother had travelled away from the village.

“Sometime in January the complainant was left in the custody of her grandfather while her grandmother went to visit relatives in a neighbouring village.

“At night, the accused who shared the same bedroom hut with the girl left his bed and sneaked into the girl’s blankets on the floor where he removed her skirts and panties before raping her once. He threatened to assault her if she revealed what had happened to anyone,” read the court documents.

It is alleged that in March the girl’s grandmother once again visited her sister in Lumbora, leaving the girl with her grandfather.

Using the same modus operandi, the old man allegedly raped the girl once.

The same thing happened again for three consecutive nights while the grandmother was still away.

The fifth incident occurred in June during the day when the girl was cooking in a kitchen hut and her sex maniac grandfather allegedly pushed her against the wall and raped her while standing on one leg.

“In June the grandmother went to collect thatching grass from the fields and left the complainant cooking.

“The accused went to the kitchen hut and made the girl stand against the wall and raise her skirt.”

The matter only came to light when the girl visited her mother and some neighbours suspected she was pregnant when they noticed she had grown bigger.

She narrated her ordeal telling them how her grandfather had subjected her to an agonising sexual experience.

A report was made to the police leading to the old man’s arrest.