The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A HONDE Valley man who raped his 14-year-old daughter after burning all her clothes, accusing her of spreading rumours about him was slapped with an 18-year jail term.
The 36-year-old man (name withheld to protect the identity of the minor) was sentenced to a further three months in jail, wholly suspended on condition that he pays US$500 restitution to his deflowered daughter for the clothes he burnt.
The matter appeared before Mutare regional magistrate, Mrs Phathekile Msipa.
The man was convicted of contravening Section 65 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23 which criminalises rape.
He was also convicted of malicious damage to property as defined in Section 140 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23.
Following a thorough and comprehensive trial, concrete evidence presented before the court led to the conviction of the man. In delivering her verdict, Mrs Msipa, said: “Your heinous actions have, not only caused irreparable harm to your own biological daughter, but have also deeply wounded the moral fabric of our society. The repercussions of your reprehensible behaviour are grave and you do not deserve to be out in the society with such a crime.”
Mrs Msipa emphasised the careful consideration given to the evidence, the deep impact of the abuse on the minor, and said there was need for justice in the matter.
“Your sentence is not solely punitive; it serves as a reflection of the anguish you have inflicted upon an innocent child. Therefore, you are hereby sentenced to 18 years of imprisonment. During this period, it is my hope that you will contemplate the atrociousness of your actions, the trust you have betrayed, and the irreversible damage you have caused.”
Furthermore, Mrs Msipa underscored the significance of the sentence as a deterrent to others, emphasising the importance of protecting vulnerable members of the society.
“May this sentence serve as a warning to those who would consider committing similar acts. Additionally, may it offer some solace to the young girl whose innocence was cruelly taken from her by her own father,” she asserted.
Mrs Msipa concluded by urging vigilance and collective action in safeguarding children from sex predators.
Ms Nomathemba Sayi prosecuted.
She told the court that the minor’s parents separated and she was staying with her father when she was raped.
“Sometime in October 2023, the complainant’s father burnt her clothes worth US$500 after accusing her of spreading false information that her mother who is based in South Africa was the one buying her clothes. The man argued that he had bought the child more clothes than her mother and that she was lying to people that it was only her mother who was buying her clothes,” she said.
Ms Sayi further stated that on November 21, 2023 at around 1pm, the man called his daughter to his bedroom where he demanded to be intimate with her.
“The minor refused and when she got up to leave the room, the man stood up from the bed and pushed her onto the bed before raping her. The matter came to light when the minor confided in her mother when she came back from South Africa for the holidays.
“The woman reported the matter to the police, leading to the man’s arrest. The girl was referred to hospital where tests were conducted. It was proven that she had been sexually active,” said Ms Sayi.
