mbulelo smpofu
Thupeyo Muleya, thupeyo.muleya@zimpapers.co.zw
A 25-YEAR-OLD herd boy from Tshinvhazwimi Village under Chief Tshitaudze area in Beitbridge appeared in court yesterday for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl at knifepoint on New Year’s Eve.
The man appeared before Beitbridge regional magistrate, Ms Charity Maphosa, yesterday facing a rape charge.
He was remanded in custody to January 13 for trial
The complainant had been left in the custody of her young brother when the man allegedly raped her.
Prosecuting, Mr Willbrought Muleya told the court that on December 31, the accused was left in the company of the two children by their mother who went to Beitbridge town.
The mother did not return on the same day.
The court heard that later in the night, the complaint was awakened by Ncube who was caressing her.
She then screamed for help and the suspect produced a knife and threatened to stab her.
The accused lifted the victim from her room and took her outside where he met her young brother who had been awakened by her cry for help.
The man also threatened to stab the minor before dragging the complainant to the bush where he allegedly raped her once at knifepoint.
After the alleged rape, the accused ordered the girl to return home. Upon arrival, the victim phoned her mother who in turn made a police report, leading to the man’s arrest.
The incident comes a few weeks after another herd boy from Gwanda took turns with his friend to rape an 11-year-old girl from Mkhalipe area.
He was sentenced to an effective 18 years in jail by the same magistrate.
His accomplice is still at large.
Last week, another 36-year-old man from the Msane area under Chief Tshitaudze in Beitbridge was jailed for an effective 15 years for sneaking into a neighbour’s homestead and raping her at knife point.
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
