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Sheronrose Mugombi – [email protected]
A 35-YEAR-OLD from Mutare was jailed 20 years for raping his 15 year old neighbour.
Accused visited complainant’s home on 30 August and offered juice to her and her younger brother, which made them feel dizzy.
Accused raped complainant at her home, fleeing when her father arrived leaving his short, shirt and leather jacket.
Later, accused falsely claimed complainant and brother stole his belongings, leading to complainant’s assault by her father. Complainant escaped and revealed alleged rape to her mother who was at a funeral.
In a statement on X, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said on 30 August the accused person proceeded to the complainant’s home, looking for the complainant’s brother.
“When he got there he found out that the complainant’s brother was not at home, instead he found the complainant and her younger brother alone at home. He offered them some juice whereupon they both felt dizzy after taking the juice. The accused person left and later returned and attempted to forcefully grab the complainant by the hand. The complainant escaped and ran to her parents’ bedroom. The accused person followed her to the bedroom where he covered her mouth using a pillow, removed her clothes and raped her,”
“The accused person only stopped when he heard the complainant’s father’s motorbike. He jumped out through the window, left his short, shirt and leather jacket as he fled the scene. He returned later and accused the complainant and her brother of stealing the clothes and his mobile phone,”
“The complainant’s father believed the accused person’s story about the theft and assaulted the complainant who ran away to her mother who was at a funeral and confided in her about the offence. A Police report was made leading to the arrest of the accused person,”
“He was convicted and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment of which two years were suspended. He will serve 18 years effectively,” said the NPAZ