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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau

A 36-year-old man from the Musane area under Chief Tshitaudze in Beitbridge has been jailed for an effective 15 years for sneaking into a neighbour’s homestead and raping her at knife point.

Although Wellington Mafanedza pleaded not guilty to a charge of rape before regional magistrate Ms Charity Maphosa, he was convicted on the strength of the State’s evidence.

Prosecuting, Miss Tsitsi Mtukwa said on October 20 this year, at around 3 am, the woman (22) was sleeping naked in her bedroom.

She said the accused sneaked into the house through an open window and was spotted by the complainant.

Soon after getting into the house, Mafanedza approached the woman who had been lying in bed facing down to turn over but she resisted.

He then placed a knife on her stomach threatening to stab her if she resisted any further instructions.

Mafanedza raped the woman once while holding the knife and sneaked out through the window after committing the crime.

The complainant informed another villager who took her to Makhado Police Station where the matter was reported.

Mafanedza was arrested following thorough investigations.

The incident comes a few weeks after a herd boy from Gwanda who took turns with his friend to rape an 11-year-old girl from the Mkhalipe area was sent to jail for an effective 18 years by a Beitbridge Regional Court.

Proud Mnkhandla aged 31 is accused of having raped the grade four pupil while she was coming from school in May this year along with another accomplice still at large.