By Panashe Divine Karidzagundi
A 76-year-old man from Zezani in Beitbridge has been jailed for 15 years for raping his 14-year-old mentally challenged niece.
Ntshime Moyo’s case was heard at the Beitbridge Regional Court.
The court found Moyo had sexual contact with the girl on August 8, 2024, at his home in the Zezani area.
Prosecutor Willbrought Muleya told the court that Moyo, who is the girl’s uncle, committed the crime twice on the same day.
One of the assaults was seen in part by the girl’s younger sister.
The court heard that Moyo threatened to kill the girl if she told anyone about what happened, which stopped her from speaking out immediately.
After the first assault, the girl’s mother and sister noticed she was having difficulty walking.
Later that day, the girl told her mother about the abuse when she returned from the fields.
The police were called, and medical tests confirmed that she had been raped.
During the trial, the court examined medical and psychological reports that supported the girl’s account.
The court found that Moyo’s actions were illegal and violated the Sexual Offences Act.
The victim is a minor and unable to consent.
Regional Magistrates Charity Maphosa presided.