Teenager jailed for rape

A GUTU teenager will serve eight years in jail for teaming up with a colleague who is on the run to rape a 10-year-old girl.

Metron Gumbo (18) of Muchuchu Village under Chief Munyaradzi, was initially slapped with a 10-year jail term by magistrate Mrs Dambudzo Malunga, who conditionally suspended two years of the sentence. Gumbo was convicted of raping the juvenile after threatening to kill her if she spilled the beans.

Gumbo was denying raping the girl, laying the blame on his fugitive accomplice, whom he said was the one who committed the offence.

Mrs Malunga convicted Gumbo at the end of a full trial owing to incriminating evidence.

Agreed facts were that on December 3 last year, Gumbo and his friend visited the victim’s homestead to socialise with fellow villagers.

Gumbo and his colleague then waited for family members at the victim’s home to retire to bed before they went to a hut where the girl was sleeping alone.

Prosecuting, Mr Liberty Hove told the court that Gumbo and his friend found the victim sleeping on a mat and forcibly removed her clothes before taking turns to rape her. Gumbo and his friend threatened to kill the victim if she screamed or told anyone about the offence.

The matter came to light a few days later after the victim’s grandmother questioned her after noticing that she was having some difficulty in walking.