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Courtney Matende, Midlands Reporter

A 21-YEAR-OLD man from Silobela has been sentenced to 36 years in prison for raping his niece on six occasions.

The accused, whose name has been withheld to protect the identity of the complainant, appeared before Gweru regional magistrate, Mrs Phathekile Msipa, facing six counts of rape.

He was convicted on his own plea of guilty and handed a 36-year prison sentence.

Mrs Msipa suspended 10 years from his sentence on condition of good behaviour.

Passing sentence, Mrs Msipa said there was a surge in rape cases and therefore a need for lengthy custodial sentences to deter would-be offenders.

“The accused person is a first offender and is aged 21. He has been a law abiding citizen. First offenders should be considered for non-custodian sentences so that they reform. The accused person is single, not formally employed and he pleaded guilty to all six counts therefore didn’t waste the court’s time. He was remorseful but rape is a very serious offence. He raped the complainant six times, a sign of premeditation making the offence serious.

“The medical report makes sad reading when one goes through it and evidence of penetration is definite. He sexually abused the complainant, took advantage of her status because she is an eight-year-old orphan. There is a need to impose stiffer penalties to show that courts don’t condone such conduct,” she said.

It was the State case that in November last year, the complainant’s grandmother went to church and left her with the accused person.

The court heard that the accused person called the complainant to his bedroom and gave her a dollar.

The accused, the court heard, grabbed the complainant and laid her down on the blankets he had spread on the floor and raped her once.

He violated her five more times, giving the complainant Jiggies and a dollar which he would take back from her.

The court heard that the accused was found raping his niece by his mother who reported the matter to the police leading to his arrest.

Mr Talent Tadenyika appeared for the State.