In a disturbing turn of events, a 44-year-old man from Beitbridge has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for the horrific ƨǝxuɑl abuse of his 13-year-old niece.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, the accused, whose identity has been withheld to protect the victim, appeared before the Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court on charges of rape.
The abuse began in June 2023, when the man was at home with the young complainant. Authorities stated that the perpetrator initially approached the child, proposing love to her. When the victim did not respond, the man became enraged and threatened to assault her before forcibly pulling her onto a sofa and molesting her. The attack only ended when the complainant’s younger brother walked into the room.
The sickening abuse did not stop there. Later that same night, the accused man climbed through the window of the victim’s room as she slept, covered her mouth, removed her clothes, and proceeded to rape her. This heinous act was the first of many, as the man continued to ƨǝxuɑlly assault the child on multiple occasions until March 2024.
The horrifying truth finally came to light when another relative witnessed the perpetrator entering the victim’s room. The matter was immediately reported to the authorities, leading to the man’s arrest.
In a strong message that such abhorrent crimes will not be tolerated, the Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court sentenced the 44-year-old to 20 years in prison for his deplorable actions.
