Man thrown 30 years in jail for raping daughter

A HURUNGWE father, who repeatedly raped his own daughter before threatening to kill her with an axe, has been jailed for 30 years at Chinhoyi Magistrates Court.

The 34-year-old, who cannot be named to protect the daughter, had five years suspended for the next five years by Chinhoyi regional magistrate Mr Amos Mbobo on condition of good behaviour. He will serve 25 effective years on two counts of raping his daughter. The father had pleaded not guilty to rape charges as defined in section 65 (1) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, but he was convicted after a full trial yesterday. Mr Mbodo described the father’s behaviour as ‘wicked’, considering that the victim’s mother was dead.

During the trial, Mr Mbobo heard how the victim’s mother died before the father forced her to stay with him and not pay for her school fees.

“The prevalence of sexual violence against children in our society is deeply troubling and the imposition of stiffer penalties will not only give advantage to the survivor, but will also express the abhorrent with which society in regards these pervasive, but intriguing acts,” he said. Trustmore Mukarati, who represented the State, said sometime in January, the father called the juvenile to his bedroom, claiming that he was going to teach her secondary school work.

The victim couldn’t proceed with her education after Grade 7. The accused covered the complainant’s mouth with a cloth and had sexual intercourse without her consent. The court heard that the man threatened to axe the girl if she divulged the matter to anyone.