The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Post Correspondent
A RUSAPE based Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services officer who allegedly sexually abused his 11-year-old daughter and a four-year-old relative has been arrested and appeared in court on rape charges.
Hilton Harrison Mutsikwi (28) who is based at Nyazura Farm Prison pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared before Rusape regional magistrate, Mr Livingstone Chipadza. Rusape district prosecutor, Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira, told the court that Mutsikwi took advantage of the absence of his wife to abuse the minors. “The accused person in this case is Hilton Harrison Mutsikwi who resides in Vengere Rusape. He is a member of the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services currently stationed at Nyazura Prison. The complainant is a juvenile aged 11 and is in Grade 5 at a local school.
“The accused person is complainant’s step father. Sometime in April 2018 at around 12pm the complainant’s mother had gone to work and left the complainant and her young cousin sister in the custody of the accused person. The accused person called the two into his bedroom and sexually abused the 11 year old girl. After the act he threatened her not to reveal the case to anyone. The matter came to light when the complainant started complaining of feeling pain on her private parts. Her mother took her to the clinic and it was noticed that she was sexually abused. Complainant was interviewed and she revealed that she was abused by the accused person,” said Mr Mutyasira.
The court also heard that Mutsikwi abused a 4-year-old juvenile after promising her yogurt. “The complainant is a four-year-old juvenile. Sometime in April 2018 complainant’s aunt had gone to work and left her in the company of her 11-year-old cousin and the accused person.
“Accused person sexually abused the complainant after promising her some yogurt. Complainant later told accused’s wife about the abuse but she did not take any action. The matter came to light when the complainant started feeling some pain and her mother took her to the hospital where it was noticed that she was sexually abused. She was interviewed and she revealed that it was Mutsikwi who abused her,” said Mr Mutyasira.
Mr Chipadza postponed the matter to 24 August 2018 for continuation.
