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Trish Mukwazo [email protected]

A TSHOLOTSHO man who took advantage of a juvenile walking alone on a footpath and raped her has been sentenced to an effective 15 years in jail by a Bulawayo regional magistrate.

Jetro Ncube raped the 14-year-old victim on 23 July this year at Mbambangamandla bushy area in Tsholotsho.

Ncube’s age was not stated in the court papers.

In passing the sentence, Bulawayo regional magistrate Ms Benhilda Chiwundura noted that Ncube took advantage of the victim who is a minor.

She noted that the victim suffered extreme trauma as a result of the offender’s deeds as she cannot socialise with her age mates like she used to.

The prosecutor Ms Portia Mashazhu told the court that the victim is a grade seven pupil at a local school in Tsholotsho.

She said on the fateful day at around 6am as the victim was going to school on a footpath alone, on approaching Mbambangamandla bushy area, the victim met Ncube who asked for sexual intercourse from her and she refused.

The court heard that in an attempt to escape the victim tried to run away but Ncube chased after her and eventually caught up with her.

Ncube grabbed the victim’s neck and tripped her on the ground. He raped her once.

Ncube threatened to harm the victim if she disclosed the matter to anyone.

The matter came to light on 25 July when the victim wrote a letter to her mother to inform her about the incident. Her mother escorted her to the police station the following day to file a report.