17 years for raping four-year-old

A 37-YEAR-OLD man from Gokwe has been slapped with a 17-year imprisonment sentence for raping his four-year-old stepdaughter while her mother was fetching water.

After raping his stepdaughter, the man threatened her with death and ordered her to go and play outside while he went to hide in the forest.

The man from Village Vulele under Chief Njelele, Gokwe South who cannot be named to protect the identity of the minor appeared before provincial magistrate Mr Solomon Jenya facing one count of rape. He pleaded not guilty to the charge but was convicted and sentenced to 17 years in prison. He will, however, serve 14 years after three years of his sentence were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

Prosecuting, Ms Mary Chapinga told the court that on 22 July at around 7am the man was left sleeping in the same bedroom hut with the child while his wife went to fetch water from a nearby well.

She said when the girl’s mother was bathing her, she noticed some semen on her private parts and asked her what had happened.

“The child told her mother everything and she escorted her to the police leading to the arrest of the accused person after a thorough search.

“The complainant was referred to Kwekwe District Hospital where she was medically examined and a medical report indicated she had been raped,” said Ms Chapinga.