By Desire Tshuma
Karoi – A 60-year-old man from Hurungwe has been sentenced to 40 years in prison by the Karoi Regional Magistrates’ Court after being convicted of raping his 14-year-old granddaughter on two separate occasions.
According to NPAZ, the victim had been left in the custody of her grandfather while her grandmother was away. The court heard that the offender abused that trust by luring the girl into his bedroom under the pretext of asking for assistance, where he raped her and threatened to evict her from the homestead if she spoke out.
A month later, the man stalked the victim to a garden where she was fetching water and gathering vegetables and raped her a second time.
The victim eventually confided in social welfare workers, who alerted authorities. Investigations led to the arrest and conviction of the offender on two counts of rape.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe commended the bravery of the victim and the swift action by social welfare officers who ensured her safety.
NPAZ urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicions of child abuse immediately to police or local social welfare desks to ensure perpetrators face the full wrath of the law.