A man from Madumabisa village in Hwange was caught red-handed raping a grade five pupil by her mother.

The man Mclyin Matenuka (36) pleaded not guilty to the rape charge when he appeared before Hwange Regional Court magistrate Dambudzo Malunga but was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in jail. Two years were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour. This means he will serve an effective 13 years.

The prosecutor  Memory Mnsaka  told the court that  sometime in September this year, the girl arrived from school and found her mother not at home. Matenuka who is her mother’s friend arrived  and found the girl seated in the dinning room alone. He asked as to where her mother was and the girl said she found her not there.

He then grabbed and raped her  after threatening her.
The girl did not tell anyone. During the same month the accused visited her home again and always took advantage of her mother’s absence to sexually abuse her.

On October 27 he went to the same home and was made to sit in the dinning room while the girl’s mother was busy doing laundry with the girl.

She sent the girl into the house to collect soap and accused got hold of her and raped her again. The mother got disturbed when the girl delayed returning and went to check only to find her friend raping her daughter.

The matter was reported to the police leading to the man’s arrest. by Stephen Jakes
Source: Byo24News