By Panashe Karidzagundi
A 69-year-old Beitbridge man has been sentenced to an effective 15 years in prison for repeatedly raping his 12-year-old niece.
The accused, Gift Shumba Moyo appeared before Regional Magistrate Charity Maphosa at the Beitbridge Regional Magistrates’ Court, where he was found guilty of multiple counts of rape.
The court heard that in May 2026, Moyo went to stay at the victim’s family home in Beitbridge.
Moyo slept in the kitchen, where the young girl and her brother also slept.
Their aunt, who cared for the children, was frequently away overnight attending to a poultry project.
Prosecutor Olivia Chamutinya said, Moyo took advantage of the aunt’s absence, and sexually assaulted the child during the night after removing her blankets.
The abuse continued almost every night until May 29, 2026, stopping only on two occasions when the aunt was at home.
The victim’s behaviour later changed noticeably, and she began arriving late for school.
Chamutinya said, concerned by the repeated lateness, her aunt questioned her on June 1, 2026.
The girl disclosed that her uncle had been waking her every night to sexually abuse her, leaving her exhausted and unable to wake up in time for school.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Moyo’s arrest and prosecution.
At start Moyo was denying the allegations, but the evidence was over whelming.
Maphosa imposed an effective 15-year prison term.