mbulelo smpofu
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, sukulwenkosi.dube@chronicle.co.zw
A FILABUSI man, Nqabutho Ncube (31) appeared in court yesterday facing allegations of raping his co-tenant’s three-year-old granddaughter.
Ncube pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before Gwanda regional magistrate, Ms Sithembiso Ndebele.
He was granted US$100 bail and will be back in court on January 3 for continuation of trial.
Through his lawyer, Mr Tapiwa Solani of Sengweni Legal Practice, Ncube applied for discharge at the close of the State’s case.
He claimed that he was being framed by the complainant’s grandmother.
“My client denies committing the offence and will argue that the complainant’s grandmother is framing him to tarnish his image. The child was put up to this by her grandmother,” argued Mr Solani.
He further argued that the grandmother’s testimony was riddled with inconsistencies.
“During her testimony, the complainant’s grandmother failed to consistently narrate what transpired and explain why she delayed reporting the matter. These inconsistencies indicate that the allegations are fabricated,” he said.
Prosecutor, Mr Ngonidzashe Shumba, told the court that in August, Ncube allegedly invited the toddler into his room, where he sexually abused her.
The matter came to light when the child complained of pain in her private part when the grandmother was bathing her.
“The complainant revealed to her grandmother that the accused had sexually abused her. The grandmother informed a neighbour, who then advised her to report the matter to the police, leading to Ncube’s arrest,” said Mr Shumba.
In her testimony, the grandmother explained that she initially hesitated to report the matter due to her close relationship with Ncube as a co-tenant.
