Stepfather, brother-in-law jailed 15 years each for rape

Two men from Matabeleland South have each been sentenced to an effective 15 years’ imprisonment after being convicted of raping vulnerable women in separate incidents in Matobo and Gwanda districts.

In the first case, a 42-year-old man from Kezi in Matobo District was convicted of raping his 18-year-old stepdaughter. He was caught in the act by his wife.

The man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the complainant, was convicted of rape by Gwanda regional magistrate Mrs Sithembiso Ndebele.

Prosecuting, Ms Zanele Sithole told the court that on April 21 at around 8 PM, the complainant, the accused and the accused’s wife had supper before retiring to bed.

The attackers fled to Mozambique, where they sold his cellphone

The complainant slept on the floor while the accused and his wife shared a bed in the same room.

During the night, the accused left his bed, sneaked into the complainant’s blankets, removed her clothes and raped her.

“The complainant screamed during the act, alerting her mother who woke up and found the accused in the act,” said Ms Sithole.

The complainant’s mother reported the matter to the village head before a police report was made, leading to the accused’s arrest.

In a separate case, a 46-year-old Gwanda man was also sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison after being convicted of raping his 24-year-old sister-in-law on two occasions.

The accused, who cannot be named to protect the complainant’s identity, was also convicted by Mrs Ndebele.

Prosecutor Mr Ngonidzashe Shumba said the offences occurred in June last year.

The court heard that during the first incident, the complainant was walking home from her aunt’s home when she met the accused, who proposed love to her.

After she rejected his advances, he followed her, caught up with her and force-marched her into a nearby bush where he raped her before fleeing.

The complainant returned home but did not immediately disclose the assault.

Later that month, the accused found the complainant alone at her homestead while she was doing household chores.

After she again rejected his advances, he instructed her to accompany him to the kitchen hut to prepare food.

“While inside the kitchen hut, the accused grabbed the complainant, pinned her to the floor and raped her. After committing the offence, he warned her against reporting the matter before leaving the homestead,” Mr Shumba told the court.

The abuse came to light on June 25 when the complainant refused to visit her sister’s homestead.

Concerned by her reaction, her grandmother questioned her further until she disclosed the alleged sexual assaults.

The matter was reported to the police, leading to the accused’s arrest. *_-Herald_*