Rapist stepdad jailed 14 years

A MAN from Kezi (43) has been sentenced to 14 years imprisonment for raping his 13-yearold stepdaughter several times after she was left in his custody by her mother.

The man from Sun Yet Sen area who cannot be named for ethical reasons was convicted on his own plea of guilty to rape by Gwanda regional magistrate Mr Mark Dzira last week.

He was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment of which three were suspended on condition he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years. In passing sentence, Mr Dzira rebuked the man for harming the juvenile who saw him as a father figure.

“The fact that your wife left you in the custody of her children is a sign that she trusted you and expected you to look after them as their father.

“This child has been staying with you and she regarded you as her father but you went on to harm her and you have destroyed her future. The offence you committed is serious and you deserve to be locked up for a long time so that you can reflect on your unruly behaviour,” he said.

Prosecuting, Mr Mncedisi Dube said the man raped the juvenile three times during the month of December last year.

“On a date unknown to the prosecutor but during the month of December last year, the complainant’s mother went to South Africa and left the juvenile and her eight-year-old younger sister in the custody of their stepfather.

“The man took advantage of his wife’s absence and raped his stepdaughter on three separate occasions. He went on and threatened to beat her up if she reported the matter to her mother,” he said.

Mr Dube said the matter came to light when the juvenile reported to her mother what her step father her done to her in her absence. The matter was reported to the police leading to the man’s arrest.

@DubeMatutu