Rapist granddad jailed 35 years

A SEVENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD Hwedza man was last week sentenced to an effective 45 years in prison for raping his five granddaughters aged between three and five years.

Marondera magistrate Mr Clever Tsikwa initially slapped the man with a 45-year jail term, but suspended 10 years on condition of good behaviour.

Though he pleaded not guilty to the charges, he was convicted after a full trial.

The prosecutor Mrs Tariro Shirichena told the court that sometime in January, the accused told one of his granddaughters to bring him his hoe.

When the minor complied, he took advantage and raped her once.

He then silenced the minor by offering her a sweet.

On a separate occasion, the accused called his five-year-old granddaughter, who was playing outside into his bedroom.

He raped her once and offered her a sweet before threatening to beat her up if she dared to disclose the incident to anyone.

The court heard that he did the same with his three other granddaughters.

The matter came to light when the minors’ grandmother noticed that they had difficulties in walking and quizzed them.

The minors opened up and the matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrest of the grandfather.

A medical examination carried on the little girls showed that they were sexually violated.