Incest earns man 4-year jail term

A MASVINGO man wailed uncontrollably in the dock as he tried to convince a provincial magistrate not to impose a custodial sentence for having an incestuous relationship with his daughter, forcing proceedings to halt.

Masvingo provincial magistrate Mr Langton Ndokera sentenced Ranganai Bishi ( 34) of Ndiweni Village under Chief Mazungunye to four years behind bars after he admitted to having a sexual relationship with his 14-year- old daughter.

Mr Ndokera had initially slapped him with a five-year jail term, but suspended a year for good behaviour.

Bishi had caused drama before he was sentenced as he pleaded with Mr Ndokera to spare him jail time and wept uncontrollably while telling the court that he had been advised by his uncles to sleep with his daughter to end poverty in his family.

Mr Ndokera said a custodial sentence was required given the spike in cases of incest in the country and also pointed out that it was morally apprehensive for a father to be intimate with her daughter.

He said the act was taboo in society and Bishi deserved to be jailed for it.

Prosecutor Mr Fidelis Nyamukondiwa said during the period between February and May this year, Bishi was left in the custody of his daughter by his wife who had gone to do some piece jobs in the village.

He took advantage of his wife’s absence, called his daughter to his bedroom and told her that they were supposed to be intimate so that all their problems would go away.

The daughter agreed to be intimate with her father and they continued doing so over a period of time.

Bishi threatened his daughter with unspecified action if she reported him, but the matter came to light on June 28 when an unidentified caller tipped off the police at Ngomahuru Police Base, who conducted investigations, leading to Bishi’s arrest.