20 yrs in jail for raping minors

A 23-YEAR-OLD MAN has been sentenced to 20 years in jail after a court found him guilty of raping two minors on different occasions before trying to bribe them with biscuits.

Prince Maisa from Madlambudzi, Bulilima District raped two Madlambudzi Primary School girls after calling them to his room sometime last year.

In sentencing, Bulawayo regional magistrate Mrs Sibongile MsipaMarondedze bemoaned the increase of rape cases countrywide.

“You are therefore sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for each count. Of the total 20 years, five years are suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour,” she said.

Prosecuting Ms Concilia Ncube said Maisa asked the two girls to clean his room sometime in November.

“The girls swept his room and were given biscuits. One of the girls, aged 12, left his room first, leaving behind her friend, also aged 12. Maisa then called her into his room and promised to give her another biscuit and the girl complied.

“Maisa closed the door, grabbed the girl and raped her once. The girl went away and narrated what had happened to her friend,” said Ms Ncube.

The prosecutor said Maisa then called the second girl to his room, proposed love and was turned down.

“On another day, Maisa called the same girl to his room and the girl agreed. When she got there, he tried to remove her clothes but she started screaming. Maisa then reached for a kitchen knife which was on the table and threatened to kill her if she made any noise,” she said.

The court heard that Maisa undressed the girl and raped her once.

“The girl went away and told her friend about the incident. The other girl told her mother who made a police report. Her friend also opened up to her aunt on the same day and the girls were taken to Plumtree Hospital for medical examination,” she said.