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Trish Mukwazo, [email protected]

A 65-YEAR-OLD man from Bulawayo has appeared in court for allegedly indecently assaulting and raping his 16-year-old daughter for three years on several occasions.

The accused, from Mbundane suburb, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, allegedly raped the complainant between 2021 and April this year.

He was not asked to plead when he appeared before Bulawayo regional magistrate Ms Sibonginkosi Mnkandla facing rape charges. The man was remanded in custody to 20 August.

The prosecutor, Ms Mellissa Dube said the accused started raping his daughter sometime in 2021. The court heard that each time he committed the offence, he threatened the victim with death if she reported the matter to anyone.

“Between 2021 and May 2024, the accused fondled the complainant’s breasts and force-marched her to his bedroom where he would rape her. The accused continued having sexual intercourse with the complainant such that the victim has lost count of the number of occasions,” she said.

The matter came to light on May 2 when the accused was caught red-handed by his son who then alerted their mother. A report was made to the police leading to the accused person’s arrest.

“The accused person’s son barged into the bedroom and found his father raping the complainant. The accused’s son then informed his mother who in turn reported the matter to the police and the accused was arrested,” said Ms Dube.

The girl was referred to a probation officer in the Department of Social Welfare.

Meanwhile, a 20-year-old cattle herder from Woolendale in Umguza District appeared before the same magistrate for allegedly sodomising a 12-year-old boy after he found the juvenile in the bush herding his family’s cattle and sheep.

Mthokozisi Moyo is facing charges of aggravated indecent assault. He was remanded in custody to 21 August pending examination by two doctors in terms of the Mental Health Act.

Prosecuting, Ms Christina Manyika said on 4 August at around 5 pm, the complainant was in the bush in Woolendale tending his family sheep and goats when he was confronted by the accused.

“While in the bush the accused came and grabbed the complainant’s hand and pushed him to the ground, and removed his pair of trousers before sodomising him,” she said.

After committing the offence, Moyo fled from the scene. The complainant went home and narrated his ordeal to his father. A report was made to the police leading to Moyo’s arrest. The complainant was then referred to the hospital for medical examination.