By Desire Tshuma
MUTARE — A 31-year-old Mutare man has been sentenced to an effective 17 years in prison after the Mutare Magistrates’ Court convicted him of raping his 4-year-old daughter.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe on 9 July 2026, the court sentenced the man to 20 years imprisonment. Three years were suspended for five years on condition of good behavior, leaving him to serve 17 years effective.
Court records show the offence happened on 28 April 2026. The child, who lives with her maternal grandparents in a neighboring village, had come to visit her family. She found her father alone at home. The NPAZ says the man called the child into his bedroom and raped her, before telling her to go back to her grandparents’ home.
The abuse came to light when the child’s mother noticed the 4-year-old was having difficulty walking. After questioning the child, the mother discovered what had happened and reported the matter to police. The father was then arrested.
The NPAZ said it strongly condemns all acts of sexual violence, particularly against children.
“Such offences are a gross violation of human dignity, bodily integrity and the right to live free from abuse and fear,” the NPAZ stated .
Child rights groups have repeatedly called for stiffer action against perpetrators of sexual abuse and for communities to report suspected cases early. The NPAZ ended by urging members of the public to speak out.
The sentence is one of several handed down by Zimbabwean courts this year in cases involving the rape of minors, as the judiciary continues to push for zero tolerance on child sexual abuse.