ZIMBABWE: A Shurugwi man has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for juju associated rape, after he forced her step-daughter, whom he is more than twice her age, into sexual intercourse at knife point, while his wife was delivering their first baby girl.

The man revealed to his close relatives, whom he advised to withdraw the case, that the evil act was an order from a local traditional healer whom he had consulted in search for riches. It is alleged that the 41-year-old man forced her step-daughter that he was staying with in Shurugwi, during the absence of his wife reported to have been admitted at Gweru General Hospital, ironically, giving birth to their first baby girl who might live to be the next victim of his father after 15 years. It was reported that on 28 September, the accused was alone with the teenager at his area of his residence in Falcon, a gold mining high density community situated on the outskirts of Shurugwi.

The accused allegedly, like an innocent father, summoned the complainant (18) to his bedroom, and behind closed doors indicated to her that he wanted to have a secret love affair with her. The complainant is reported to have rebuffed the incredible proposal and reported the matter to her younger sister as well as her school teacher who both advised her to find somewhere to stay. Consequently, she moved to stay with a relative in a distant compound but her nightmares were still in the early stages of unfolding. Barely a fortnight, the accused assaulted her with a fist upon refusal to accompany him to Gweru General Hospital where the complainant's mother was admitted.

It is further alleged that the complainant gave in to his step-father's orders, and upon coming back from the hospital at around 8pm, the accused called her to his bedroom again but this time locking the doors before demanding sex from her. The complainant's refusal this time was in vain as the accused is reported to have produced a knife threatening to take away her life if she was to continue resisting his advances. The slim defenceless teenager screamed, alarming her younger sister who responded by breaking windows in an attempt to rescue her but was also threatened with death if she was to distract him in satisfying his sexual desire and fulfilling the juju prescription.

The complainant, in efforts to flee terror, tried to escape through the window, only to be pulled back, forced to the ground and pressed down before being raped once by the accused, the person she looked upon for sustenance and protection. Wilfred Mapiye, one of the witnesses to the state, allegedly peeped through the broken window and saw the accused in action, right on top of the his daughter.

The accused, who was too introverted to face her wife with the newly born baby, pleaded guilty to the charges or rape, was was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and two years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.

myZimbabwe