A 37-year-old man from Mugute Village in Penhalonga has been sentenced to 20 years in pr!son for repeatedly r@ping his 16-year-old niece, which led to her becoming pregn@nt.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) shared the details of this case on social media.
The abuse started in August 2023 when the man tricked his niece into an old kitchen at their home. There, he @tt@cked her and rap3d her while threatening to k!ll her if she told anyone.
A few days later, the girl’s mother sent her to get groceries from her uncle’s house. He took this chance to drag her into his bedroom and rap3d her again, making more threats to keep her silent.
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This terrible cycle of abus3 continued in September and October 2023, with the man raping his niece twice each month. It went on into November, January, and February 2024, happening every time they were alone together.
The victim’s pregnancy became obvious in August 2024 when her sister noticed her growing belly. At first, the girl didn’t want to say who had hurt her, but after some questioning from her brother, she finally told him. They reported the cr!me to the police right away.
A medical check confirmed that she was pregnant, which provided important evidence in the case. The man was arr3sted and charged with rap3. The court carefully considered all the evidence and found him g!ilty.
The Penhalonga Magistrates’ Court sentenced him to 20 years in pr!son, but three years of the sentence were suspended for five years if he behaves well.
This case shows the serious effects of s3xual v1olence and the need for people to report such crimes. The NPAZ is committed to punishing those who commit s3xual offenses and helping victims find justice.
