A 41-year-old man from Tsholotsho has been sentenced to 20 years in pr!son for repeatedly r@p!ng his daughter over a span of three years.
The @buse came to light in July this year when the victim, now 13, took part in a school program about s3xual abus3.
This program helped her understand the wrongs she had suffered at the hands of her father, who started abus!ng her when she was just 10 years old.
After learning about her rights, the girl confided in her teacher, who took her to a police station to report her father.
During the trial at the Bulawayo regional court, the father denied the allegations, claiming that his daughter made up the story out of spite for disciplining her after she stole textbooks.
However, the court dismissed his defense.
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The young girl testified about the frightening experiences she endured at home.
She described her father as violent, recalling how he had once @ss@ulted her stepmother, leaving her blind.
She explained that the rap3s happened whenever her stepmother was away, making her more vulnerable. The father had also threatened her with v!olence if she ever spoke about the abuse.
The prosecution provided details of the first rap3 incident in 2021, which occurred after a fight with the stepmother. As the case went on, it was revealed that the father continuously exploited his daughter’s vulnerability during his wife’s absences.
Medical evidence from the Tsholotsho District Hospital supported the victim’s story.
The prosecution highlighted that instead of protecting his daughter, the father abus3d her trust, inflicting lasting h@rm.
The girl’s trauma was so severe that she had even attempted su!cide by swallowing fertilizer.
In his defense, the father asked for a lighter sentence, citing his role as the provider for two wives and eight children.
However, Magistrate Dambudzo Malunga responded firmly, stating that the victim reported her experiences without pressure and that her testimony was credible.
She emphasized the grave nature of the abu_se and its devastating effects on the girl, declaring the father’s actions as heinous.
