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Marvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
A 51-YEAR-OLD man raped his neighbour’s nine-year-old daughter and then tried to buy her silence with a packet of amacimbi (mopane worms), a court heard.
Gwanda regional magistrate Joseph Mabeza yesterday heard how Colleen Ncube of Hlalani Kuhle Houses would go to the alleged victim’s house while she was alone and take her to his house where the alleged sex attacks took place.

“At one time, I saw Ncube taking the victim and when she came back later, she had a packet of amacimbi, vegetables and also had her hair shaved,” a State witness close to the victim testified. “She indicated to me that she had been given amacimbi and vegetables by him for relish. He also gave her a $1 note for a haircut.”

Ncube pleaded not guilty and in his defence said he regretted playing a “Good Samaritan” to the alleged victim whom he claimed would have indicated to him that they had no relish at home. “I’m now suffering because I had been a Good Samaritan to the girl and her brothers who were starving.

“She asked for a $1 from me so that she could have her hair cut as it was a requirement at school and I gave her,” said Ncube.
Regional prosecutor Johannes Tlou charged: “I put it to you that your relationship with the victim was illicit.  “I further put it to you that you threatened the victim, that’s why she took long to report the matter.

“The reason why you gave the girl amacimbi and vegetables was because you were trying to please her so that she does not report you. You raped her.”

Ncube is accused of a string of sex attacks on the victim between October and December last year.
The judge will deliver his verdict today.