A man from Hopley has been handed an effective 15-year prison sentence for the rape of a Grade 6 learner, whom he met on the road and lured into his house.
Tafadzwa Muchechemera (23) was found guilty of two counts of rape by Harare regional magistrate Mr Clever Tsikwa.
For each count, Muchechemera received a 15-year prison term, with the sentences running concurrently.
Prosecutor Mr Tendai Tapi successfully presented evidence proving that Muchechemera raped the 13-year-old complainant on two separate occasions.
The incidents occurred on December 2 last year around mid-day when the complainant left her Chitungwiza residence to visit her biological mother in Amsterdam Park. She claimed to be facing mistreatment from her stepmother and decided to travel on foot to her mother’s place.
At approximately 1 pm, while passing through Irvines, Muchechemera approached the complainant and inquired about her destination. She informed him that she was visiting her mother, and he offered to accompany her.
Instead of taking her to her mother’s residence, Muchechemera led the complainant to his house in Hopley and forced her to enter. Once inside, he locked the door, covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming, and raped her twice.
Following the assaults, Muchechemera chased the complainant away from his house.
The incident came to light when a concerned passerby noticed that the complainant was experiencing difficulty walking and had bloodstains on her skirt. The passerby assisted her in reporting the case to the police after she revealed what had transpired.
