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Gibson Mhaka
THE crime of rape is truly a crime against humanity and there should be no hiding place for people who commit such heinous acts.
This is because victims of this violent and bestial act are doomed to a life sentence of fear and they will never again have such confidence and trust in their fellow human beings.
There is no doubt that many victims of these crimes do not report, suffering in silence and loneliness.
Those who do report it may have to relive their nightmare by giving evidence in court, an ordeal which can be almost as harrowing as the original assault.
Following the alarming rise in rape cases then what should be the right punishment for rapists that would also help discourage would-be offenders?
In one of the most welcome sentences in response to a sharp increase in sexual violations, a 55-year-old man from Karicheredza Village under Chief Nemangwe in Gokwe was slapped with an effective 45-year jail term after being convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl who was also his neighbour on three separate occasions.
Imposing the sentence, Gokwe magistrate Lungile Ncube described Micheal Ncube’s actions as abhorrent.
Micheal was using money to lure the girl who is doing Grade Five into raping her and buying her silence.
The court heard that on an unknown date but sometime in November last year Micheal met the girl while on her way to school and gave her US$10 saying it was for her personal use.
It was proved that on another date unknown to the prosecutor but during the same month the girl went to a nearby bush to relieve herself and the accused followed her and told her that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with her because he had given her money.
While the girl was still trying to come to terms with the demands, Micheal quickly grabbed her hand and undressed her before he forcibly had sexual intercourse with her.
The court further heard that on another date again unknown to the prosecutor but sometime in February this year the girl was left home alone and the accused exploited the opportunity when he approached her and indicated that he wanted to have sexual intercourse with her because he gave her money.
The accused then grabbed the girl’s hand and dragged her to a nearby bush and quickly undressed her before he had sex with her.
It is reported that the accused who seemed to be on a spree to defile the minor girl, on an unknown date but sometime in March when the girl was herding cattle in the bush he (Micheal) approached her and undressed her before he forcibly had sex with her.
The court further heard that on 27 September at around 8am the girl passed through the accused’s homestead while going to school and Micheal gave her US$2.
The girl did not spend the money at school and when she got home her grandmother saw it and she became suspicious and asked her where she got it from.
The girl told her that she got the money from Micheal and when the grandmother further probed why Micheal was pampering her with money that is when she revealed that he had raped her on three separate occasions.
The matter was reported to the police and investigations led to the arrest of Micheal and his subsequent appearance in court.
Statistics have shown that most perpetrators of rape are close relatives or neighbours and it would appear that many of these cases go unreported.
Despite the cases that claim the media’s attention from time to time, interventions to curb the crime of rape will not be very effective because of under-reporting.
Despite the existing laws, the menace is still on the increase.
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
