Hwedza Father R@p€d Daughter for Two Years — Blames Evil Spirits in Court

A 39-year-old man from Hwedza has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to repeatedly r@ping his biological daughter over a two-year period.

The abuse began when the girl was just 12 years old and only came to light after her mother secretly recorded a conversation that exposed the horrific acts.

In court, the man claimed “evil spirits” had influenced his behavior — a defense the magistrate dismissed as cowardly and unacceptable.

According to court records, the abuse started in September 2023 when the victim, then in Grade 6, returned from South Africa to continue her education.

Prosecutor Barbara Mabika told the Marondera Magistrates’ Court that the father would follow the child into her grandmother’s bedroom as she changed out of her school uniform.

He fondled her breasts and genitals and threatened her with death if she spoke out.

The assaults escalated in October 2023 when the man forcibly r@p€d the girl inside her grandmother’s house.

After each attack, he ordered her to act normal and play with friends as if nothing had happened.

The abuse continued until February 2024, when the man left for South Africa.

However, upon his return in May 2025, the assaults resumed and persisted until September 2025.

The case unraveled on October 21, 2025, when the victim’s mother, suspicious of her daughter’s interactions with a male peer, planted a recording device on her cellphone.

In the recorded conversation, the girl denied being intimate with the boy but revealed she had been s€xu@lly abused by her father for two years.

Following the tip-off, Constable Senzere interviewed the complainant, who gave a detailed account of the repeated assaults.

Her mother later corroborated the story, confirming that her daughter had confided in her.

The Sunday Mail reported that the father manipulated the child into silence and used threats to maintain control throughout the abuse.

Magistrate Ignatious Mhene described the man’s actions as “abhorrent” and emphasized that the sentence reflects the gravity of the offense.

He rejected the claim of spiritual influence, stating that such excuses only serve to trivialize the suffering of victims.

The ruling sends a strong message that crimes against children will be met with uncompromising justice.