By Ziyah News Court Reporter
A 19-year-old man from Chipinge has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the rape of a 5-year-old girl. He was convicted and sentenced by the Chipinge Magistrate Court.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the accused was employed as a herd boy by the grandmother of the victim and was living in the same household.
On the day of the incident, the accused was herding cattle in a nearby field while the victim’s grandmother was taking a nap in her bedroom.
The accused signaled to the complainant, who was playing with another child, to come over to him.
Once the girls approached, the accused allegedly picked up the 5-year-old, kissed her, stripped her of her clothing, and raped her.
Following the assault, he dismissed her to return home.
The victim later disclosed her traumatic experience to her grandmother after suffering from nightmares, fever, and vomiting throughout the night.
This prompted the filing of a police report, which led to the arrest of the accused.